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. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  4. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  5. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  6. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  7. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  8. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  11. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  12. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  13. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  14. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  15. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  16. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  17. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  18. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  19. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  20. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  21. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  22. False peace will not ________________.
  23. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  24. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — to lash out
  2. can — a tin
  3. content — videos and posts
  4. file — a tool
  5. content — the amount
  6. last — finally
  7. lash — an eyelash
  8. hide — to keep secret
  9. can — to be able to
  10. lash — a whip stroke
  11. last — final
  12. toast — a drink to someone
  13. staff — employees
  14. hide — to keep secret
  15. hide — animal skin
  16. content — happy
  17. toast — bread
  18. file — a document
  19. toast — the most admired
  20. staff — employees
  21. file — a line of people
  22. last — to go on
  23. staff — a stick
  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