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 124 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. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  2. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  3. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  4. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  5. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  6. Have you found your soul ________________?
  7. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  8. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  9. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  10. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  11. Did you ________________ the button?
  12. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  13. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  14. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  15. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  16. Where did you ________________ them?
  17. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  18. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  19. Did you ________________ the meat?
  20. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  21. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  22. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  23. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  24. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.

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

Answer key

  1. mate — to breed
  2. bark — to shout
  3. row — a line
  4. fork — in a road
  5. press — newspapers
  6. mate — a partner
  7. row — a quarrel
  8. mug — a cup
  9. press — a publisher
  10. fork — to eat with
  11. press — to push
  12. lash — a whip stroke
  13. lash — an eyelash
  14. season — in sport
  15. bark — a dog's sound
  16. mug — to rob
  17. season — of the year
  18. fork — a garden tool
  19. season — to add flavour
  20. row — to paddle
  21. bark — of a tree
  22. mug — a face
  23. mate — a friend
  24. lash — to lash out

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