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 116 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: suit · calf · cap · fan · lash · stock · wound · ruler

  1. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  2. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  3. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  4. The ________________ market has crashed.
  5. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  6. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  7. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  8. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  9. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  10. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  11. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  12. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  13. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  14. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  15. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  16. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  17. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  18. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  19. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  20. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  21. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  22. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  23. When will it ________________ you to start?
  24. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?

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

Answer key

  1. lash — to lash out
  2. wound — past of 'wind'
  3. lash — an eyelash
  4. stock — shares
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. stock — a soup base
  7. ruler — a monarch
  8. fan — to cool the air
  9. suit — in cards
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. cap — a hat
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. wound — an injury
  16. wound — an injury
  17. stock — goods
  18. suit — clothes
  19. calf — of the leg
  20. cap — of ice
  21. lash — a whip stroke
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. suit — to fit
  24. cap — a lid

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