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 124 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: deal · fine · bark · lash · lie · cabinet · suit · last

  1. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  2. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  3. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  4. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  5. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  6. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  7. When will it ________________ you to start?
  8. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  9. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  10. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  11. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  12. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  13. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  14. What do you think of the new ________________?
  15. False peace will not ________________.
  16. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  17. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  18. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  19. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  20. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  21. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  22. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  23. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  24. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — a whip stroke
  2. lash — an eyelash
  3. lash — to lash out
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. bark — to shout
  6. deal — to handle
  7. suit — to fit
  8. bark — of a tree
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. suit — clothes
  11. lie — to recline
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. suit — in cards
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. last — to go on
  16. cabinet — a cupboard
  17. last — finally
  18. fine — a penalty
  19. bark — a dog's sound
  20. deal — an agreement
  21. fine — all right
  22. deal — a big deal
  23. last — final
  24. fine — high quality

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