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. It's one o'clock ________________.
  2. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  3. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  4. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  5. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  6. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  7. When will it ________________ you to start?
  8. We're almost out of ________________.
  9. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  12. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  13. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  14. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  15. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  16. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  17. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  18. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  21. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  22. You don't need to ________________ round.
  23. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  24. This knife is not ________________ enough.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — exactly
  2. prune — the fruit
  3. chip — for betting
  4. rock — to move gently
  5. prune — to trim
  6. pop — music
  7. suit — to fit
  8. pop — soda
  9. chip — to eat
  10. can — a tin
  11. degree — an amount
  12. rock — music
  13. degree — temperature
  14. prune — to trim
  15. sharp — clever
  16. suit — in cards
  17. rock — a stone
  18. chip — in a computer
  19. can — to be able to
  20. can — a tin
  21. suit — clothes
  22. pop — to visit
  23. degree — from a university
  24. sharp — with an edge

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