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: perch · lash · straw · arm · rush · track · ruler · season

  1. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  2. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  3. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  4. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  5. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  6. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  7. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  8. Did you ________________ the meat?
  9. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  10. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  11. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  12. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  13. That must've been a ________________.
  14. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  15. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  16. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  17. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  18. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  19. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  20. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  21. My father caught me by the ________________.
  22. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  23. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  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. straw — to clutch at straws
  2. straw — a straw man
  3. rush — hurry
  4. track — a path
  5. lash — to lash out
  6. track — to keep track
  7. arm — a part of something
  8. season — to add flavour
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. perch — the fish
  11. season — of the year
  12. track — a song
  13. rush — a thrill
  14. lash — an eyelash
  15. straw — dry grass
  16. perch — for a bird
  17. rush — to hurry
  18. perch — for a bird
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. season — in sport
  21. arm — part of the body
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. ruler — a monarch
  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