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. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  2. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  3. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  4. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  5. When will it ________________ you to start?
  6. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  7. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  8. Have you met the new head ________________?
  9. I'll be taking the ________________.
  10. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  11. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  12. The ball is in your ________________.
  13. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  14. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  15. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  16. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  17. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  18. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  19. Have you found your soul ________________?
  20. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  21. It's one o'clock ________________.
  22. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  23. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  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. sharp — with an edge
  2. bank — of a river
  3. lash — an eyelash
  4. bank — for money
  5. suit — to fit
  6. suit — in cards
  7. tube — a container
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. tube — the underground
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. sharp — clever
  12. court — for sport
  13. suit — clothes
  14. coach — pulled by horses
  15. court — of a king
  16. bank — for money
  17. mate — a friend
  18. mate — to breed
  19. mate — a partner
  20. tube — in a tire
  21. sharp — exactly
  22. lash — a whip stroke
  23. court — of law
  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