ClueBy
TodayArchiveWord list

Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 120 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
YesNo
↻ New worksheet

Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  2. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  5. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  6. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  7. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  8. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  9. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  10. That must've been a ________________.
  11. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  12. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  13. The tickets are free of ________________.
  14. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  15. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  16. The ball is in your ________________.
  17. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  18. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  19. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  20. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  21. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  22. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  23. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  24. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. court — of law
  2. rock — to move gently
  3. rock — a stone
  4. object — a thing
  5. charge — electricity
  6. lash — an eyelash
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. lash — to lash out
  9. charge — in control
  10. rush — a thrill
  11. rush — to hurry
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. charge — a price
  14. lie — to recline
  15. row — to paddle
  16. court — for sport
  17. rush — hurry
  18. object — an aim
  19. rock — music
  20. lash — a whip stroke
  21. row — a line
  22. court — of a king
  23. row — a quarrel
  24. object — to protest

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com