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: sharp · lie · bulb · deal · lash · bay · land · trunk

  1. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  2. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  3. When are we going to ________________?
  4. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  7. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  8. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  9. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  10. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  11. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  12. The light ________________ burned out.
  13. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  14. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  15. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  16. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  19. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  20. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  21. My mare is ________________ in color.
  22. It's one o'clock ________________.
  23. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  24. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of an elephant
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. land — to come down
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. bulb — for light
  6. land — a country
  7. sharp — with an edge
  8. lie — to recline
  9. lash — an eyelash
  10. bay — a part of the sea
  11. deal — an agreement
  12. bulb — for light
  13. sharp — clever
  14. trunk — of a car
  15. bay — to keep at bay
  16. deal — a big deal
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. lash — to lash out
  19. deal — to handle
  20. land — ground
  21. bay — a horse colour
  22. sharp — exactly
  23. trunk — of a tree
  24. lash — a whip stroke

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