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: file · ball · bore · current · root · lash · hide · fan

  1. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  2. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  3. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  4. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  5. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  6. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  7. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  8. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  9. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  12. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  13. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  14. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  15. The King held a masked ________________.
  16. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  17. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  18. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  19. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  20. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  21. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  22. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  23. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  24. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — a whip stroke
  2. file — a line of people
  3. lash — to lash out
  4. root — of a plant
  5. hide — to keep secret
  6. hide — animal skin
  7. file — a document
  8. lash — an eyelash
  9. fan — to cool the air
  10. current — happening now
  11. current — electric
  12. current — of water
  13. bore — to drill
  14. root — of a word
  15. ball — a dance
  16. ball — a great time
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. root — the cause
  19. bore — to tire
  20. ball — a round shape
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. bore — gave birth
  23. hide — to keep secret
  24. file — a tool

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