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: lash · cue · spell · perch · dip · trunk · saw · season

  1. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  2. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  3. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  4. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  5. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  6. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  7. Did you ________________ the meat?
  8. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  9. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  10. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  11. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  12. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  13. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  14. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  15. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  16. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  17. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  18. She's very handy with a ________________.
  19. He works in a ________________ mill.
  20. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  21. How do you ________________ your surname?
  22. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  23. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  24. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.

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

Answer key

  1. perch — the fish
  2. dip — to sink
  3. trunk — of a car
  4. dip — a sauce
  5. spell — a short time
  6. saw — past of 'see'
  7. season — to add flavour
  8. lash — to lash out
  9. lash — an eyelash
  10. spell — magic
  11. cue — a signal
  12. dip — to dunk
  13. trunk — of an elephant
  14. cue — a hint
  15. season — in sport
  16. lash — a whip stroke
  17. perch — for a bird
  18. saw — the tool
  19. saw — the tool
  20. season — of the year
  21. spell — letters
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. cue — for pool
  24. trunk — of a tree

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