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: last · bass · mark · lie · perch · mug · wound · lash

  1. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  2. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  3. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  4. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  5. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  6. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  7. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  8. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  9. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  10. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  11. False peace will not ________________.
  12. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  13. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  14. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  15. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  16. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  17. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  18. Where did you ________________ them?
  19. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  20. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  21. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  22. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  23. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  24. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — an eyelash
  2. mug — a face
  3. mark — to pay attention
  4. perch — for a bird
  5. wound — an injury
  6. bass — the instrument
  7. mug — a cup
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. mark — a trace
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. last — to go on
  12. lash — to lash out
  13. perch — for a bird
  14. lie — to recline
  15. last — final
  16. wound — past of 'wind'
  17. mark — a grade
  18. mug — to rob
  19. wound — an injury
  20. bass — the fish
  21. perch — the fish
  22. last — finally
  23. bass — low music
  24. lash — a whip stroke

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