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

Word bank: can · spell · current · lash · safe · arm · wind · band

  1. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  2. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  5. My father caught me by the ________________.
  6. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  7. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  8. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  9. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  14. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  15. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  16. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  17. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  20. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  21. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  22. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  23. How do you ________________ your surname?
  24. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. lash — to lash out
  3. can — to be able to
  4. spell — magic
  5. arm — part of the body
  6. band — a ring
  7. lash — an eyelash
  8. arm — a part of something
  9. spell — a short time
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. wind — moving air
  12. can — a tin
  13. band — a music group
  14. current — happening now
  15. band — a rubber band
  16. wind — moving air
  17. current — electric
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. arm — part of the body
  20. current — of water
  21. lash — a whip stroke
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. spell — letters
  24. wind — to turn a key

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