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: saw · net · swing · rock · lash · spell · deal · clip

  1. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  2. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  3. She's very handy with a ________________.
  4. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  5. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  6. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  7. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  8. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  9. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  10. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  11. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  12. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  13. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  14. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  15. David sat on the ________________.
  16. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  17. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  18. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  19. He works in a ________________ mill.
  20. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  21. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  22. How do you ________________ your surname?
  23. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  24. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.

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

Answer key

  1. swing — in golf
  2. spell — magic
  3. saw — the tool
  4. clip — a video
  5. net — after costs
  6. saw — past of 'see'
  7. swing — music
  8. clip — to cut
  9. lash — a whip stroke
  10. lash — an eyelash
  11. deal — to handle
  12. deal — a big deal
  13. rock — a stone
  14. clip — for paper
  15. swing — to play on
  16. deal — an agreement
  17. net — for catching
  18. net — in sport
  19. saw — the tool
  20. rock — to move gently
  21. rock — music
  22. spell — letters
  23. lash — to lash out
  24. spell — a short time

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