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: dip · jam · fan · stock · stand · kick · lash · bound

  1. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  2. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  3. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  4. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  5. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  6. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  7. That was ________________ to happen.
  8. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  9. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  10. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  11. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  12. The ________________ market has crashed.
  13. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  14. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  15. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  16. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  17. I can't ________________ this cold.
  18. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  19. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  20. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  21. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  22. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  23. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  24. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.

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

Answer key

  1. fan — to cool the air
  2. dip — to sink
  3. bound — tied together
  4. kick — a thrill
  5. dip — to dunk
  6. lash — an eyelash
  7. bound — certain
  8. jam — to spread on bread
  9. jam — in traffic
  10. kick — in football
  11. dip — a sauce
  12. stock — shares
  13. stand — on your feet
  14. stock — a soup base
  15. lash — to lash out
  16. kick — with a leg
  17. stand — to bear
  18. stand — for spectators
  19. jam — a tight spot
  20. bound — obliged
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. lash — a whip stroke
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. stock — goods

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