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: charge · jam · season · scale · racket · cue · lash · kick

  1. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  2. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  3. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  4. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  5. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  6. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  7. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  8. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  9. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  10. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  11. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  12. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  13. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  14. The tickets are free of ________________.
  15. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  16. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  17. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  18. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  19. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  20. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  21. Did you ________________ the meat?
  22. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  23. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  24. Spring is a pleasant ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — an eyelash
  2. jam — in traffic
  3. scale — in music
  4. cue — a hint
  5. kick — in football
  6. scale — size or range
  7. kick — with a leg
  8. cue — a signal
  9. jam — a tight spot
  10. jam — to spread on bread
  11. lash — to lash out
  12. scale — for weighing
  13. racket — a loud noise
  14. charge — a price
  15. charge — in control
  16. racket — for tennis
  17. racket — for tennis
  18. cue — for pool
  19. charge — electricity
  20. season — in sport
  21. season — to add flavour
  22. lash — a whip stroke
  23. kick — a thrill
  24. season — of the year

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