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: mark · sharp · bear · ball · rock · march · ruler · lash

  1. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  2. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  3. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  4. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  5. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  6. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  7. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  8. The King held a masked ________________.
  9. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  10. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  11. It's one o'clock ________________.
  12. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  13. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  14. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  15. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  16. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  17. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  18. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  19. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  20. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  21. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  22. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  23. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  24. The spa offers ________________ extensions.

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

Answer key

  1. march — music
  2. rock — music
  3. bear — the animal
  4. ball — a round shape
  5. ruler — a monarch
  6. rock — to move gently
  7. mark — a trace
  8. ball — a dance
  9. bear — the animal
  10. march — the month
  11. sharp — exactly
  12. mark — a grade
  13. ball — a great time
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. march — the month
  16. lash — a whip stroke
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. mark — to pay attention
  19. rock — a stone
  20. sharp — clever
  21. bear — to put up with
  22. lash — to lash out
  23. sharp — with an edge
  24. lash — an eyelash

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