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. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  2. I've got to change the light ________________.
  3. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  4. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  5. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  6. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  7. I can't ________________ this cold.
  8. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  9. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  10. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  11. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  12. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  13. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  14. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  15. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  16. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  17. The light ________________ burned out.
  18. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  19. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  20. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  21. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  22. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  23. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  24. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a signal
  2. bulb — for light
  3. pass — a permit
  4. prune — to trim
  5. bulb — of a plant
  6. prune — the fruit
  7. stand — to bear
  8. drill — army training
  9. lean — to bend
  10. lean — thin
  11. kick — with a leg
  12. stand — on your feet
  13. kick — a thrill
  14. kick — in football
  15. stand — for spectators
  16. prune — to trim
  17. bulb — for light
  18. pass — to spend time
  19. cue — a hint
  20. drill — a practice
  21. pass — to succeed
  22. lean — to rest against
  23. cue — for pool
  24. drill — the tool

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