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: date · clip · leaves · current · lash · rock · pound · pop

  1. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  2. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  3. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  4. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  5. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  6. We're almost out of ________________.
  7. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  10. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  11. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  12. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  13. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  14. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  15. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  16. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  17. You don't need to ________________ round.
  18. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  19. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  20. Have you settled on a ________________?
  21. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  22. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  23. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  24. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — to lash out
  2. clip — for paper
  3. clip — to cut
  4. current — happening now
  5. lash — an eyelash
  6. pop — soda
  7. date — the fruit
  8. current — electric
  9. date — on the calendar
  10. rock — music
  11. clip — a video
  12. pop — music
  13. leaves — to go away
  14. lash — a whip stroke
  15. current — of water
  16. rock — a stone
  17. pop — to visit
  18. leaves — of a tree
  19. pound — a weight
  20. date — on the calendar
  21. rock — to move gently
  22. pound — to hit hard
  23. pound — for dogs
  24. leaves — lets stay

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