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: rock · pound · saw · lash · trunk · leaves · bound · can

  1. She's very handy with a ________________.
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. He works in a ________________ mill.
  4. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  8. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  9. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  10. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  11. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  12. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  13. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  14. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  15. That was ________________ to happen.
  16. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  17. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  18. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  19. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  20. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  21. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  22. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  23. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  24. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. can — to be able to
  3. saw — the tool
  4. pound — a weight
  5. can — a tin
  6. can — a tin
  7. leaves — of a tree
  8. bound — obliged
  9. saw — past of 'see'
  10. rock — a stone
  11. rock — to move gently
  12. pound — to hit hard
  13. leaves — lets stay
  14. lash — an eyelash
  15. bound — certain
  16. trunk — of an elephant
  17. lash — a whip stroke
  18. rock — music
  19. trunk — of a tree
  20. pound — for dogs
  21. bound — tied together
  22. leaves — to go away
  23. trunk — of a car
  24. lash — to lash out

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