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 116 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. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  2. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  8. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  9. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  12. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  13. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  14. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  15. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  16. I've got to change the light ________________.
  17. What do you think of the new ________________?
  18. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  19. The light ________________ burned out.
  20. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  21. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  22. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  23. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  24. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — the tool
  2. rock — a stone
  3. drill — a practice
  4. can — a tin
  5. dip — a sauce
  6. can — to be able to
  7. dip — to sink
  8. rock — to move gently
  9. mine — belonging to me
  10. can — a tin
  11. mine — for digging
  12. mine — an explosive
  13. lash — an eyelash
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. dip — to dunk
  16. bulb — for light
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. cabinet — a cupboard
  19. bulb — for light
  20. rock — music
  21. drill — army training
  22. lash — a whip stroke
  23. lash — to lash out
  24. bulb — of a plant

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