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: pound · bulb · fan · dip · lash · safe · rash · spell

  1. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  2. How do you ________________ your surname?
  3. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  4. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  5. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  6. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  7. Don't do anything ________________.
  8. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  9. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  10. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  11. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  14. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  15. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  16. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  17. The light ________________ burned out.
  18. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  19. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  20. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  21. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  22. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  23. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  24. I've got to change the light ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. spell — letters
  3. lash — an eyelash
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. fan — to cool the air
  6. dip — a sauce
  7. rash — hasty
  8. rash — a series
  9. rash — on the skin
  10. dip — to sink
  11. bulb — of a plant
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. lash — a whip stroke
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. pound — to hit hard
  16. pound — for dogs
  17. bulb — for light
  18. spell — a short time
  19. spell — magic
  20. safe — a strongbox
  21. lash — to lash out
  22. pound — a weight
  23. dip — to dunk
  24. bulb — for light

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