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. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  2. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  3. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  4. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  5. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  6. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  7. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  8. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  9. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  10. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  11. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  12. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  13. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  14. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  15. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  16. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  17. That must've been a ________________.
  18. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  19. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  20. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  21. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  22. The King held a masked ________________.
  23. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  24. I'd like to play a game of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. prune — the fruit
  2. fine — high quality
  3. net — for catching
  4. net — after costs
  5. rush — to hurry
  6. fine — a penalty
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. patient — a sick person
  9. patient — calm and waiting
  10. squash — to crush
  11. ball — a great time
  12. rush — hurry
  13. net — in sport
  14. prune — to trim
  15. patient — a sick person
  16. mouse — for a computer
  17. rush — a thrill
  18. squash — the vegetable
  19. prune — to trim
  20. ball — a round shape
  21. fine — all right
  22. ball — a dance
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. squash — the sport

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