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 ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  2. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  3. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  4. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  5. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  6. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  7. He works in a ________________ mill.
  8. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  9. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  10. That must've been a ________________.
  11. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  12. I've got to change the light ________________.
  13. The light ________________ burned out.
  14. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  15. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  16. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  19. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  20. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  21. She's very handy with a ________________.
  22. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  23. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  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. bank — for money
  2. row — a quarrel
  3. trunk — of a car
  4. firm — decided
  5. lash — a whip stroke
  6. lash — an eyelash
  7. saw — the tool
  8. rush — hurry
  9. firm — a company
  10. rush — a thrill
  11. bank — of a river
  12. bulb — for light
  13. bulb — for light
  14. row — to paddle
  15. saw — past of 'see'
  16. row — a line
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. firm — steady
  19. trunk — of an elephant
  20. rush — to hurry
  21. saw — the tool
  22. bank — for money
  23. trunk — of a tree
  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