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: lash · sharp · wound · pass · bore · staff · mark · season

  1. Did you ________________ the meat?
  2. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  3. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  4. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  5. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  6. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  7. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  8. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  9. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  10. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  11. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  12. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  13. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  14. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  15. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  16. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  17. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  18. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  19. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  20. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  21. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  22. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  23. It's one o'clock ________________.
  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. season — to add flavour
  2. sharp — clever
  3. bore — to tire
  4. lash — an eyelash
  5. staff — employees
  6. sharp — with an edge
  7. staff — a stick
  8. pass — to succeed
  9. mark — a trace
  10. wound — an injury
  11. wound — an injury
  12. pass — a permit
  13. season — of the year
  14. pass — to spend time
  15. bore — to drill
  16. lash — to lash out
  17. wound — past of 'wind'
  18. mark — to pay attention
  19. bore — gave birth
  20. lash — a whip stroke
  21. season — in sport
  22. staff — employees
  23. sharp — exactly
  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