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 in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  2. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  3. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  4. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  5. My father caught me by the ________________.
  6. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  7. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  8. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  9. When will it ________________ you to start?
  10. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  11. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  12. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  13. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  14. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  15. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  16. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  17. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  18. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  19. The King held a masked ________________.
  20. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  21. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  22. The tickets are free of ________________.
  23. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  24. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — to move gently
  2. ball — a round shape
  3. bark — to shout
  4. prune — to trim
  5. arm — part of the body
  6. charge — electricity
  7. band — a music group
  8. suit — clothes
  9. suit — to fit
  10. prune — the fruit
  11. charge — in control
  12. arm — part of the body
  13. bark — a dog's sound
  14. rock — music
  15. band — a ring
  16. bark — of a tree
  17. suit — in cards
  18. rock — a stone
  19. ball — a dance
  20. arm — a part of something
  21. band — a rubber band
  22. charge — a price
  23. prune — to trim
  24. ball — a great time

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