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: mug · mark · bay · current · bulb · lash · pitcher · bat

  1. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  2. He is an ace ________________.
  3. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  6. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  7. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  8. My mare is ________________ in color.
  9. I've got to change the light ________________.
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  12. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  13. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  14. The light ________________ burned out.
  15. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  16. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  17. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  18. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  19. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  20. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  21. Where did you ________________ them?
  22. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  23. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  24. She got the top ________________ in the exam.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. pitcher — in baseball
  3. lash — an eyelash
  4. current — of water
  5. bulb — of a plant
  6. lash — to lash out
  7. current — electric
  8. bay — a horse colour
  9. bulb — for light
  10. current — happening now
  11. mug — a face
  12. bay — a part of the sea
  13. bat — the animal
  14. bulb — for light
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. bat — in an idiom
  17. mug — a cup
  18. lash — a whip stroke
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. mark — a trace
  21. mug — to rob
  22. bat — for baseball
  23. mark — to pay attention
  24. mark — a grade

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