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: mug · jam · lie · lash · present · tube · mark · ball

  1. Where did you ________________ them?
  2. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  3. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  4. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  5. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  6. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  7. The King held a masked ________________.
  8. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  9. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  10. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  11. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  12. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  13. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  14. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  15. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  16. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  17. I'll be taking the ________________.
  18. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  19. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  20. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  21. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  22. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  23. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  24. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?

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

Answer key

  1. mug — to rob
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. mug — a cup
  4. tube — in a tire
  5. lash — to lash out
  6. mug — a face
  7. ball — a dance
  8. lie — to recline
  9. jam — a tight spot
  10. present — there
  11. jam — in traffic
  12. mark — a trace
  13. lash — an eyelash
  14. lash — a whip stroke
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. jam — to spread on bread
  17. tube — the underground
  18. ball — a great time
  19. ball — a round shape
  20. tube — a container
  21. present — the time now
  22. mark — a grade
  23. mark — to pay attention
  24. present — a gift

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