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: bark · can · bass · jam · lash · content · land · suit

  1. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  2. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  3. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  4. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  5. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  6. When will it ________________ you to start?
  7. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  8. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  9. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  10. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  11. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  12. When are we going to ________________?
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  17. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  18. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  19. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  20. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  21. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  22. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.

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

Answer key

  1. content — videos and posts
  2. jam — to spread on bread
  3. lash — an eyelash
  4. lash — to lash out
  5. suit — in cards
  6. suit — to fit
  7. content — the amount
  8. bass — the instrument
  9. bass — the fish
  10. jam — in traffic
  11. bark — to shout
  12. land — to come down
  13. can — a tin
  14. bark — of a tree
  15. can — a tin
  16. jam — a tight spot
  17. suit — clothes
  18. land — ground
  19. land — a country
  20. content — happy
  21. bark — a dog's sound
  22. lash — a whip stroke
  23. can — to be able to
  24. bass — low music

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