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 124 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. I've got to change the light ________________.
  2. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  3. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  4. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  5. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  6. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  7. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  8. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  9. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  10. You don't need to ________________ round.
  11. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  12. We're almost out of ________________.
  13. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  14. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  15. My father caught me by the ________________.
  16. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  17. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  18. The light ________________ burned out.
  19. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  20. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  21. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  22. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  23. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  24. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. prune — to trim
  3. arm — a part of something
  4. arm — part of the body
  5. bass — low music
  6. present — the time now
  7. jam — a tight spot
  8. bass — the fish
  9. jam — in traffic
  10. pop — to visit
  11. present — a gift
  12. pop — soda
  13. prune — the fruit
  14. jam — to spread on bread
  15. arm — part of the body
  16. bulb — of a plant
  17. prune — to trim
  18. bulb — for light
  19. present — there
  20. stick — a piece of wood
  21. bass — the instrument
  22. stick — a piece of wood
  23. pop — music
  24. stick — to attach or keep to

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