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: lash · tube · leaves · pitch · temple · arm · key · last

  1. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  2. My father caught me by the ________________.
  3. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  4. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  5. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  6. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  7. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  8. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  9. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  10. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  11. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  12. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  13. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  14. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  15. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  16. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  17. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  18. This piece is in a major ________________.
  19. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  20. False peace will not ________________.
  21. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  22. When was this ________________ built?
  23. I'll be taking the ________________.
  24. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!

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

Answer key

  1. tube — a container
  2. arm — part of the body
  3. arm — part of the body
  4. temple — side of the head
  5. last — finally
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. pitch — completely
  8. leaves — of a tree
  9. lash — a whip stroke
  10. lash — an eyelash
  11. key — for a lock
  12. key — the most important part
  13. leaves — lets stay
  14. tube — in a tire
  15. pitch — a sports field
  16. leaves — to go away
  17. arm — a part of something
  18. key — in music
  19. pitch — a sales talk
  20. last — to go on
  21. lash — to lash out
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. tube — the underground
  24. last — final

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