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: lash · cold · track · bore · date · hand · suit · safe

  1. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  2. Its rival in the ________________ War, the Soviet Union, exploited this at the time.
  3. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  4. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  5. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  6. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  7. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  8. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  9. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  10. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  11. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. Have you settled on a ________________?
  14. I had a bad ________________ and was in bed for a week.
  15. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  16. When will it ________________ you to start?
  17. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  18. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  19. The water is too ________________.
  20. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  23. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. hand — part of the body
  2. cold — the Cold War
  3. hand — help
  4. lash — to lash out
  5. lash — a whip stroke
  6. bore — gave birth
  7. date — the fruit
  8. suit — clothes
  9. track — a path
  10. suit — in cards
  11. hand — in cards
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. date — on the calendar
  14. cold — an illness
  15. lash — an eyelash
  16. suit — to fit
  17. bore — to tire
  18. track — to keep track
  19. cold — not warm
  20. date — on the calendar
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. track — a song
  23. bore — to drill
  24. safe — out of danger

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