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 120 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: foot · drill · lash · cell · charge · dip · file · arm

  1. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  2. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  3. He was locked up in a ________________.
  4. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  5. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  6. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  7. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  8. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  9. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  10. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  11. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  12. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  13. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  14. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  15. The tickets are free of ________________.
  16. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  17. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  18. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  19. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  20. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  21. My father caught me by the ________________.
  22. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  23. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  24. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a line of people
  2. file — a document
  3. cell — in a prison
  4. lash — to lash out
  5. foot — the bottom
  6. file — a tool
  7. drill — a practice
  8. arm — a part of something
  9. charge — electricity
  10. dip — a sauce
  11. foot — part of the body
  12. cell — in biology
  13. drill — the tool
  14. charge — in control
  15. charge — a price
  16. dip — to sink
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. cell — a phone
  19. lash — an eyelash
  20. foot — a measure
  21. arm — part of the body
  22. lash — a whip stroke
  23. dip — to dunk
  24. drill — army training

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