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: jam · stand · kick · lash · fine · cue · bound · nail

  1. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  2. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  3. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  4. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  5. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  6. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  7. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  8. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  9. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  10. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  11. I can't ________________ this cold.
  12. The ________________ went through the wall.
  13. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  14. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  15. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  16. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  17. That was ________________ to happen.
  18. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  19. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  20. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  21. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  22. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  23. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  24. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.

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

Answer key

  1. kick — with a leg
  2. lash — to lash out
  3. cue — a hint
  4. lash — an eyelash
  5. jam — in traffic
  6. kick — in football
  7. kick — a thrill
  8. cue — for pool
  9. cue — a signal
  10. nail — on a finger
  11. stand — to bear
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. fine — high quality
  14. bound — obliged
  15. stand — for spectators
  16. stand — on your feet
  17. bound — certain
  18. fine — all right
  19. bound — tied together
  20. jam — to spread on bread
  21. jam — a tight spot
  22. lash — a whip stroke
  23. fine — a penalty
  24. nail — for a hammer

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