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: drill · bear · rock · cap · rush · pound · lash · branch

  1. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  2. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  3. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  4. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  5. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  6. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  7. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  8. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  9. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  10. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  11. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  12. That must've been a ________________.
  13. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  14. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  15. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  16. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  17. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  18. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  19. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  20. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  21. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  22. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  23. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  24. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — a whip stroke
  2. cap — a lid
  3. drill — the tool
  4. cap — a hat
  5. drill — army training
  6. pound — for dogs
  7. cap — of ice
  8. pound — a weight
  9. rock — a stone
  10. branch — of a bank
  11. rock — to move gently
  12. rush — a thrill
  13. lash — an eyelash
  14. bear — the animal
  15. rush — hurry
  16. rock — music
  17. bear — the animal
  18. pound — to hit hard
  19. branch — a division
  20. drill — a practice
  21. rush — to hurry
  22. branch — of a tree
  23. bear — to put up with
  24. lash — to lash out

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