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. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  2. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  3. We're almost out of ________________.
  4. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  5. You don't need to ________________ round.
  6. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  7. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  8. She's very handy with a ________________.
  9. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  10. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  11. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  12. I'll be taking the ________________.
  13. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  14. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  15. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  16. He works in a ________________ mill.
  17. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  18. It's one o'clock ________________.
  19. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  20. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  21. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  22. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  23. Have you met the new head ________________?
  24. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!

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

Answer key

  1. saw — past of 'see'
  2. firm — a company
  3. pop — soda
  4. lash — a whip stroke
  5. pop — to visit
  6. coach — pulled by horses
  7. firm — steady
  8. saw — the tool
  9. bear — the animal
  10. lash — to lash out
  11. tube — in a tire
  12. tube — the underground
  13. bear — the animal
  14. tube — a container
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. saw — the tool
  17. pop — music
  18. sharp — exactly
  19. firm — decided
  20. lash — an eyelash
  21. sharp — with an edge
  22. sharp — clever
  23. coach — a trainer
  24. bear — to put up with

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