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 from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: stem · lash · mark · bound · wax · sharp

  1. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  2. That was ________________ to happen.
  3. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  4. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  5. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  6. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  7. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  8. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  9. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  10. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  11. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  12. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  13. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  14. It's one o'clock ________________.
  15. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  16. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  17. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  18. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — to lash out
  2. bound — certain
  3. stem — a stem cell
  4. lash — a whip stroke
  5. mark — a trace
  6. stem — of a plant
  7. wax — for sculpting
  8. lash — an eyelash
  9. wax — in the ear
  10. wax — to grow
  11. sharp — clever
  12. bound — obliged
  13. mark — a grade
  14. sharp — exactly
  15. sharp — with an edge
  16. stem — to come from
  17. bound — tied together
  18. mark — to pay attention

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