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: stem · cabinet · fine · track · lash · row · sharp · fan

  1. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  2. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  3. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  4. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  5. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  6. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  7. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  8. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  9. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  10. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  11. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  12. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  13. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  14. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  15. What do you think of the new ________________?
  16. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  17. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  18. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  19. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  20. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  21. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  22. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  23. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  24. It's one o'clock ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. row — a line
  2. track — a song
  3. lash — an eyelash
  4. fine — a penalty
  5. track — a path
  6. fan — to cool the air
  7. stem — of a plant
  8. row — a quarrel
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. fine — all right
  11. row — to paddle
  12. lash — a whip stroke
  13. stem — to come from
  14. sharp — with an edge
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. cabinet — a cupboard
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. lash — to lash out
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. track — to keep track
  21. stem — a stem cell
  22. sharp — clever
  23. fine — high quality
  24. sharp — exactly

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