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. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  2. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. Don't do anything ________________.
  5. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  6. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  9. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  10. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  11. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  12. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  13. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  14. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  15. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  16. She's very handy with a ________________.
  17. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  18. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  19. He works in a ________________ mill.
  20. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  21. That was ________________ to happen.
  22. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.

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

Answer key

  1. firm — decided
  2. firm — a company
  3. can — a tin
  4. rash — hasty
  5. lash — a whip stroke
  6. mine — belonging to me
  7. can — a tin
  8. net — for catching
  9. mine — an explosive
  10. bound — tied together
  11. lash — an eyelash
  12. mine — for digging
  13. saw — past of 'see'
  14. bound — obliged
  15. firm — steady
  16. saw — the tool
  17. net — after costs
  18. rash — on the skin
  19. saw — the tool
  20. net — in sport
  21. bound — certain
  22. lash — to lash out
  23. can — to be able to
  24. rash — a series

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