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. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  2. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  3. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  4. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  7. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  8. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  9. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  10. I can't ________________ this cold.
  11. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  12. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  13. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  14. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  17. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  18. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  19. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  20. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  21. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  22. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  23. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  24. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. squash — the vegetable
  3. lash — a whip stroke
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. can — to be able to
  6. lie — to recline
  7. squash — to crush
  8. pit — a hole
  9. pit — a fruit stone
  10. stand — to bear
  11. racket — for tennis
  12. lash — to lash out
  13. squash — the sport
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. can — a tin
  16. file — a tool
  17. stand — on your feet
  18. stand — for spectators
  19. file — a line of people
  20. racket — for tennis
  21. lash — an eyelash
  22. file — a document
  23. racket — a loud noise
  24. pit — in a race

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