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: squash · clip · deal · lash · nail · object · fan · charge

  1. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. The ________________ went through the wall.
  3. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  4. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  5. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  6. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  7. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  8. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  9. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  10. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  11. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  12. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  13. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  14. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  15. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  16. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  17. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  18. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  19. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  20. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  21. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  22. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  23. The tickets are free of ________________.
  24. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. object — an aim
  6. clip — for paper
  7. deal — an agreement
  8. lash — an eyelash
  9. object — to protest
  10. nail — on a finger
  11. deal — a big deal
  12. deal — to handle
  13. clip — a video
  14. object — a thing
  15. clip — to cut
  16. fan — to cool the air
  17. lash — to lash out
  18. charge — electricity
  19. squash — the vegetable
  20. squash — the sport
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. lash — a whip stroke
  23. charge — a price
  24. squash — to crush

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