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: lie · stem · mark · bark · chip · last · bank · lash

  1. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  2. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  3. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  4. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  5. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  6. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  7. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  8. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  9. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  10. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  11. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  12. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  13. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  14. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  15. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  16. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  17. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  18. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  19. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  20. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  21. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  22. False peace will not ________________.
  23. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  24. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.

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

Answer key

  1. bark — a dog's sound
  2. chip — in a computer
  3. chip — for betting
  4. lash — to lash out
  5. bark — of a tree
  6. mark — to pay attention
  7. lash — an eyelash
  8. bark — to shout
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. stem — of a plant
  11. stem — a stem cell
  12. last — final
  13. lash — a whip stroke
  14. last — finally
  15. stem — to come from
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. chip — to eat
  18. mark — a grade
  19. lie — to recline
  20. mark — a trace
  21. bank — of a river
  22. last — to go on
  23. bank — for money
  24. bank — for money

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