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 116 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 equal to sixteen ounces.
  2. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  3. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  4. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  5. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  6. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  7. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  8. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  9. When are we going to ________________?
  10. The light ________________ burned out.
  11. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  12. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  13. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  14. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  15. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  16. The ________________ went through the wall.
  17. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  18. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  19. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  20. Don't do anything ________________.
  21. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  22. I've got to change the light ________________.
  23. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  24. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pound — a weight
  2. rash — on the skin
  3. pound — to hit hard
  4. net — in sport
  5. fine — high quality
  6. bulb — of a plant
  7. net — for catching
  8. rash — a series
  9. land — to come down
  10. bulb — for light
  11. nail — on a finger
  12. lean — thin
  13. lean — to bend
  14. fine — a penalty
  15. fine — all right
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. land — a country
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. pound — for dogs
  20. rash — hasty
  21. lean — to rest against
  22. bulb — for light
  23. net — after costs
  24. land — ground

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