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: bank · rash · cabinet · drill · leaves · lash · bay · rush

  1. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  2. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  3. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  4. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  5. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  6. My mare is ________________ in color.
  7. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  8. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  9. What do you think of the new ________________?
  10. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  11. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  12. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  13. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  14. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  15. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  16. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  17. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  18. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  19. Don't do anything ________________.
  20. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  21. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  22. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  23. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  24. That must've been a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — lets stay
  2. cabinet — a cupboard
  3. drill — the tool
  4. lash — a whip stroke
  5. lash — to lash out
  6. bay — a horse colour
  7. drill — a practice
  8. bank — for money
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. rush — to hurry
  11. leaves — to go away
  12. lash — an eyelash
  13. rash — on the skin
  14. rush — hurry
  15. rash — a series
  16. drill — army training
  17. bay — to keep at bay
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. rash — hasty
  20. bank — for money
  21. leaves — of a tree
  22. bay — a part of the sea
  23. bank — of a river
  24. rush — a thrill

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