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: bulb · band · lash · plane · lean · wave · content · rush

  1. That must've been a ________________.
  2. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  3. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  4. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  5. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  6. The light ________________ burned out.
  7. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  8. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  9. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  10. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  11. I've got to change the light ________________.
  12. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  13. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  14. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  15. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  16. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  17. The ________________ took off on time.
  18. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  19. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  20. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  21. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  22. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  23. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  24. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — a thrill
  2. plane — a tool
  3. lean — to bend
  4. rush — to hurry
  5. band — a music group
  6. bulb — for light
  7. lean — thin
  8. lash — a whip stroke
  9. band — a ring
  10. content — videos and posts
  11. bulb — for light
  12. wave — with your hand
  13. lash — to lash out
  14. band — a rubber band
  15. plane — in geometry
  16. lean — to rest against
  17. plane — an aircraft
  18. content — happy
  19. wave — a sudden rise
  20. lash — an eyelash
  21. content — the amount
  22. rush — hurry
  23. bulb — of a plant
  24. wave — of the sea

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