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 120 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: last · calf · wave · lash · squash · fine · bulb · object

  1. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  2. The light ________________ burned out.
  3. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  4. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  5. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  6. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  7. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  8. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  9. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  10. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  11. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  12. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  13. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  14. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  15. I've got to change the light ________________.
  16. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  17. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  18. False peace will not ________________.
  19. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  20. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  21. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  22. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  23. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  24. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. object — an aim
  2. bulb — for light
  3. lash — an eyelash
  4. wave — a sudden rise
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. squash — the sport
  7. last — final
  8. wave — with your hand
  9. fine — a penalty
  10. bulb — of a plant
  11. object — a thing
  12. fine — high quality
  13. last — finally
  14. calf — of the leg
  15. bulb — for light
  16. lash — to lash out
  17. object — to protest
  18. last — to go on
  19. wave — of the sea
  20. fine — all right
  21. lash — a whip stroke
  22. squash — to crush
  23. squash — the vegetable
  24. calf — a young animal

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