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 120 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. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  2. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  3. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  4. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  5. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  6. You don't need to ________________ round.
  7. The light ________________ burned out.
  8. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  9. The ________________ went through the wall.
  10. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  11. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  12. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  13. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  14. We're almost out of ________________.
  15. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  16. Where did you ________________ them?
  17. I've got to change the light ________________.
  18. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  19. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  20. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  21. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  22. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  23. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. fan — a supporter
  2. squash — to crush
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. present — the time now
  5. fan — to cool the air
  6. pop — to visit
  7. bulb — for light
  8. mug — a cup
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. squash — the vegetable
  11. present — a gift
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. face — to confront
  14. pop — soda
  15. present — there
  16. mug — to rob
  17. bulb — for light
  18. nail — on a finger
  19. face — part of the head
  20. pop — music
  21. face — to point toward
  22. bulb — of a plant
  23. squash — the sport
  24. mug — a face

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