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: foot · rest · mug · mark · pitcher · nail · scale · lash

  1. Where did you ________________ them?
  2. The ________________ went through the wall.
  3. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  4. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  5. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  6. He is an ace ________________.
  7. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  8. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  9. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  10. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  11. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  12. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  13. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  14. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  15. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  16. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  17. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  18. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  19. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  20. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  21. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  22. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  23. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  24. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — to rob
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. foot — a measure
  4. foot — part of the body
  5. rest — a break
  6. pitcher — in baseball
  7. rest — what's left
  8. scale — for weighing
  9. lash — a whip stroke
  10. scale — in music
  11. mark — a trace
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. foot — the bottom
  14. mug — a cup
  15. lash — an eyelash
  16. mark — to pay attention
  17. rest — what's left
  18. scale — size or range
  19. mug — a face
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. mark — a grade
  22. lash — to lash out
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. nail — on a finger

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