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: cabinet · fine · shower · lash · rash · bound · bowl · pit

  1. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  2. That was ________________ to happen.
  3. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  4. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  5. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  6. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  7. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  8. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  9. Don't do anything ________________.
  10. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  11. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  12. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  13. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  14. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  15. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  16. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  17. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  18. What do you think of the new ________________?
  19. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  20. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  21. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  22. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  23. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  24. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — a cupboard
  2. bound — certain
  3. shower — a meteor shower
  4. fine — a penalty
  5. rash — on the skin
  6. lash — a whip stroke
  7. pit — a fruit stone
  8. pit — in a race
  9. rash — hasty
  10. lash — to lash out
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. rash — a series
  13. fine — high quality
  14. fine — all right
  15. shower — rain
  16. bowl — a dish
  17. bound — obliged
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. pit — a hole
  20. lash — an eyelash
  21. bowl — a football final
  22. bound — tied together
  23. shower — to wash
  24. bowl — to roll

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