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: fan · foot · bulb · lie · bay · current · lash · bark

  1. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  2. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  3. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  4. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  7. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  10. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  11. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  12. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  13. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  14. My mare is ________________ in color.
  15. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  16. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  17. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  18. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  19. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  20. The light ________________ burned out.
  21. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  22. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  23. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  24. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — a measure
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. bay — a part of the sea
  5. bulb — for light
  6. bark — a dog's sound
  7. lash — a whip stroke
  8. current — electric
  9. current — of water
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. bulb — of a plant
  12. bay — to keep at bay
  13. foot — the bottom
  14. bay — a horse colour
  15. lash — an eyelash
  16. fan — to cool the air
  17. foot — part of the body
  18. bark — to shout
  19. bark — of a tree
  20. bulb — for light
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. lash — to lash out
  23. lie — to recline
  24. current — happening now

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