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: key · tube · ruler · hide · rock · prune · lash · racket

  1. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  2. This piece is in a major ________________.
  3. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  4. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  5. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  6. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  7. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  8. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  9. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  10. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  11. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  12. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  13. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  14. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  15. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  16. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  17. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  18. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  19. I'll be taking the ________________.
  20. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  21. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  22. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  23. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  24. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — a whip stroke
  2. key — in music
  3. prune — to trim
  4. tube — in a tire
  5. hide — to keep secret
  6. rock — music
  7. ruler — a monarch
  8. rock — a stone
  9. prune — to trim
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. lash — to lash out
  12. tube — a container
  13. racket — for tennis
  14. key — the most important part
  15. rock — to move gently
  16. key — for a lock
  17. lash — an eyelash
  18. prune — the fruit
  19. tube — the underground
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. hide — to keep secret
  22. racket — for tennis
  23. racket — a loud noise
  24. hide — animal skin

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