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: rash · arm · lie · rush · cabinet · fine · season · prune

  1. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  2. What do you think of the new ________________?
  3. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  4. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  5. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  6. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  7. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  8. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  9. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  10. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  11. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  12. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  13. Did you ________________ the meat?
  14. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  15. Don't do anything ________________.
  16. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  17. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  18. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  19. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  20. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  21. That must've been a ________________.
  22. My father caught me by the ________________.
  23. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  24. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — high quality
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. season — of the year
  4. rash — on the skin
  5. season — in sport
  6. fine — a penalty
  7. rush — to hurry
  8. prune — the fruit
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. rush — hurry
  11. lie — to recline
  12. arm — a part of something
  13. season — to add flavour
  14. prune — to trim
  15. rash — hasty
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. cabinet — a cupboard
  19. prune — to trim
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. rush — a thrill
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. fine — all right
  24. rash — a series

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