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: safe · season · lie · bark · fall · net · lash · fine

  1. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  2. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  3. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  4. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  5. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  8. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  9. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  10. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  11. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  12. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  13. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  14. Did you ________________ the meat?
  15. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  18. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  19. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  20. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  21. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  22. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bark — to shout
  2. season — of the year
  3. fall — the season
  4. bark — of a tree
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. net — in sport
  8. fine — all right
  9. net — for catching
  10. net — after costs
  11. fine — high quality
  12. fall — to drop
  13. fall — to drop
  14. season — to add flavour
  15. lash — to lash out
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. bark — a dog's sound
  18. lash — an eyelash
  19. lie — to recline
  20. fine — a penalty
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. lash — a whip stroke
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. season — in sport

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