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: spring · mark · can · suit · game · plane · lash · pitcher

  1. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  4. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  7. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  8. He is an ace ________________.
  9. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  10. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  11. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  12. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  13. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  14. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  15. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  16. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  17. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  18. When will it ________________ you to start?
  19. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  20. That was a fun ________________.
  21. The ________________ took off on time.
  22. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  23. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  24. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — an eyelash
  2. can — to be able to
  3. spring — a coil
  4. mark — to pay attention
  5. can — a tin
  6. lash — a whip stroke
  7. plane — a tool
  8. pitcher — in baseball
  9. mark — a grade
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. plane — in geometry
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. lash — to lash out
  14. game — a kind of play
  15. spring — the season
  16. suit — in cards
  17. mark — a trace
  18. suit — to fit
  19. suit — clothes
  20. game — a match
  21. plane — an aircraft
  22. game — wild animals
  23. can — a tin
  24. spring — of water

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