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: hide · bass · stock · pass · lash · branch · bulb · suit

  1. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  2. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  3. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  4. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  5. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  6. The ________________ market has crashed.
  7. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  8. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  9. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  10. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  11. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  12. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  13. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  14. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  15. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  16. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  17. When will it ________________ you to start?
  18. The light ________________ burned out.
  19. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  20. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  21. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  22. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  23. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  24. I've got to change the light ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — low music
  2. lash — a whip stroke
  3. lash — to lash out
  4. bass — the instrument
  5. pass — a permit
  6. stock — shares
  7. bulb — of a plant
  8. hide — to keep secret
  9. branch — a division
  10. suit — in cards
  11. branch — of a tree
  12. hide — to keep secret
  13. pass — to succeed
  14. branch — of a bank
  15. suit — clothes
  16. stock — goods
  17. suit — to fit
  18. bulb — for light
  19. pass — to spend time
  20. bass — the fish
  21. stock — a soup base
  22. hide — animal skin
  23. lash — an eyelash
  24. bulb — for light

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