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 116 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: mouse · trunk · rush · lash · rock · rest · drill · deal

  1. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  2. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  3. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  4. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  5. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  6. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  7. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  8. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  9. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  10. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  11. That must've been a ________________.
  12. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  13. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  14. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  15. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  16. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  17. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  18. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  19. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  20. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  21. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  22. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  23. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. rock — to move gently
  2. drill — the tool
  3. deal — to handle
  4. deal — a big deal
  5. mouse — for a computer
  6. rest — what's left
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. trunk — of a tree
  9. deal — an agreement
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. rush — a thrill
  12. rock — a stone
  13. trunk — of an elephant
  14. lash — to lash out
  15. rest — a break
  16. trunk — of a car
  17. drill — a practice
  18. drill — army training
  19. lash — a whip stroke
  20. lash — an eyelash
  21. rush — to hurry
  22. rush — hurry
  23. rest — what's left
  24. rock — music

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