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. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  2. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  3. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  4. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. You don't need to ________________ round.
  7. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  8. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  9. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  12. Where did you ________________ them?
  13. We're almost out of ________________.
  14. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  15. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  16. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  17. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  18. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  19. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  20. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  21. There's no middle ________________.
  22. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  23. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  24. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.

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

Answer key

  1. snap — to snap out of it
  2. ground — the earth
  3. object — an aim
  4. drill — a practice
  5. can — to be able to
  6. pop — to visit
  7. drill — army training
  8. drill — the tool
  9. lash — a whip stroke
  10. can — a tin
  11. mug — a cup
  12. mug — to rob
  13. pop — soda
  14. snap — to click
  15. mug — a face
  16. object — to protest
  17. pop — music
  18. snap — to speak sharply
  19. ground — crushed
  20. lash — an eyelash
  21. ground — a position
  22. lash — to lash out
  23. object — a thing
  24. can — a tin

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