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. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  2. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  3. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  4. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  5. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  6. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  7. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  8. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  9. I've got to change the light ________________.
  10. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  11. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  12. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  13. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  14. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  15. The ________________ took off on time.
  16. The tickets are free of ________________.
  17. The light ________________ burned out.
  18. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  19. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  20. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  21. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  22. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  23. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  24. The train ________________ at six o'clock.

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

Answer key

  1. prune — to trim
  2. leaves — lets stay
  3. mine — belonging to me
  4. bass — low music
  5. plane — a tool
  6. bass — the instrument
  7. leaves — of a tree
  8. plane — in geometry
  9. bulb — for light
  10. bass — the fish
  11. bulb — of a plant
  12. fine — all right
  13. mine — for digging
  14. prune — to trim
  15. plane — an aircraft
  16. charge — a price
  17. bulb — for light
  18. prune — the fruit
  19. fine — high quality
  20. fine — a penalty
  21. mine — an explosive
  22. charge — in control
  23. charge — electricity
  24. leaves — to go away

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