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. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  2. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  3. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  4. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  5. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  6. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  7. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  8. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  9. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  10. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  11. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  12. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  13. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  14. That was ________________ to happen.
  15. When will it ________________ you to start?
  16. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  17. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  18. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  19. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  20. Where did you ________________ them?
  21. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  22. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  23. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  24. The ________________ market has crashed.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — a whip stroke
  2. stock — a soup base
  3. march — the month
  4. suit — clothes
  5. mug — a face
  6. hand — help
  7. lash — to lash out
  8. mug — a cup
  9. bowl — a dish
  10. lash — an eyelash
  11. march — music
  12. march — the month
  13. bowl — a football final
  14. bound — certain
  15. suit — to fit
  16. hand — part of the body
  17. stock — goods
  18. bound — obliged
  19. hand — in cards
  20. mug — to rob
  21. bound — tied together
  22. bowl — to roll
  23. suit — in cards
  24. stock — shares

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