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 birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  2. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  3. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  4. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  5. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  6. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  7. My father caught me by the ________________.
  8. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  9. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  10. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  11. That must've been a ________________.
  12. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  13. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  14. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  15. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  16. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  17. The ________________ market has crashed.
  18. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  19. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  20. My mare is ________________ in color.
  21. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  22. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  23. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  24. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. perch — for a bird
  2. lash — a whip stroke
  3. arm — part of the body
  4. stock — a soup base
  5. rush — to hurry
  6. rush — hurry
  7. arm — part of the body
  8. shower — a meteor shower
  9. arm — a part of something
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. rush — a thrill
  12. shower — rain
  13. stock — goods
  14. lash — an eyelash
  15. shower — to wash
  16. perch — the fish
  17. stock — shares
  18. bay — to keep at bay
  19. hide — animal skin
  20. bay — a horse colour
  21. hide — to keep secret
  22. bay — a part of the sea
  23. lash — to lash out
  24. perch — for a bird

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