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: rash · bat · suit · firm · club · wake · nail · bore

  1. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  2. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  3. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  4. The ________________ went through the wall.
  5. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  6. Don't do anything ________________.
  7. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  8. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  9. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  10. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  11. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  12. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  13. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  14. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  15. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  16. When will it ________________ you to start?
  17. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  18. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  19. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  20. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  21. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  22. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  23. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  24. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.

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

Answer key

  1. bat — the animal
  2. wake — a trail
  3. suit — in cards
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. suit — clothes
  6. rash — hasty
  7. rash — on the skin
  8. club — for golf
  9. wake — before a funeral
  10. bore — to drill
  11. bore — to tire
  12. club — for dancing
  13. bat — for baseball
  14. firm — decided
  15. rash — a series
  16. suit — to fit
  17. nail — on a finger
  18. wake — to stop sleeping
  19. firm — steady
  20. bore — gave birth
  21. bat — in an idiom
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. firm — a company
  24. club — a group

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