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: lash · lie · rock · mine · arm · ball · calf · sharp

  1. The King held a masked ________________.
  2. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  3. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  4. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  5. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  6. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  7. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  8. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  9. It's one o'clock ________________.
  10. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  11. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  12. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  13. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  14. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  15. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  16. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  17. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  18. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  19. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  20. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  21. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  22. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  23. My father caught me by the ________________.
  24. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a dance
  2. arm — a part of something
  3. lash — to lash out
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. sharp — clever
  6. mine — an explosive
  7. lash — an eyelash
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. sharp — exactly
  10. sharp — with an edge
  11. ball — a great time
  12. rock — music
  13. calf — of the leg
  14. lie — to recline
  15. rock — a stone
  16. mine — for digging
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. mine — belonging to me
  19. arm — part of the body
  20. ball — a round shape
  21. rock — to move gently
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. arm — part of the body
  24. lash — a whip stroke

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