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: firm · bear · ball · lash · suit · calf · rush · spring

  1. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  2. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  3. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  4. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  5. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  6. The King held a masked ________________.
  7. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  8. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  9. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  10. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  11. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  12. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  13. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  14. When will it ________________ you to start?
  15. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  16. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  17. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  18. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  19. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  20. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  21. That must've been a ________________.
  22. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  23. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  24. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — the animal
  2. firm — a company
  3. suit — clothes
  4. bear — the animal
  5. ball — a round shape
  6. ball — a dance
  7. calf — of the leg
  8. firm — decided
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. bear — to put up with
  11. ball — a great time
  12. rush — hurry
  13. spring — the season
  14. suit — to fit
  15. lash — to lash out
  16. lash — a whip stroke
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. lash — an eyelash
  19. suit — in cards
  20. spring — a coil
  21. rush — a thrill
  22. rush — to hurry
  23. spring — of water
  24. firm — steady

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