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: deal · mark · fine · lean · dip · field · nail · lash

  1. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  2. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  3. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  4. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  5. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  6. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  7. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  8. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  9. The ________________ went through the wall.
  10. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  11. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  12. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  13. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  14. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  15. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  16. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  17. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  18. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  19. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  20. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  21. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  22. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  23. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  24. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to sink
  2. mark — to pay attention
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. dip — to dunk
  5. dip — a sauce
  6. lean — to rest against
  7. fine — high quality
  8. deal — a big deal
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. lash — an eyelash
  11. lean — to bend
  12. lash — to lash out
  13. deal — an agreement
  14. nail — on a finger
  15. field — farmland
  16. fine — a penalty
  17. mark — a trace
  18. mark — a grade
  19. field — a subject
  20. fine — all right
  21. lean — thin
  22. deal — to handle
  23. lash — a whip stroke
  24. field — for 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