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 just a dried plum.
  2. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  3. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  4. This piece is in a major ________________.
  5. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  6. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  7. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  8. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  9. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  10. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  11. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  12. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  13. The ________________ went through the wall.
  14. Did you ________________ the meat?
  15. The ________________ took off on time.
  16. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  17. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  18. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  19. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  20. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  21. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  22. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  23. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  24. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.

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

Answer key

  1. prune — the fruit
  2. bank — of a river
  3. dip — a sauce
  4. key — in music
  5. prune — to trim
  6. dip — to sink
  7. season — of the year
  8. dip — to dunk
  9. hand — help
  10. plane — a tool
  11. key — for a lock
  12. nail — on a finger
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. season — to add flavour
  15. plane — an aircraft
  16. hand — in cards
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. key — the most important part
  19. plane — in geometry
  20. hand — part of the body
  21. prune — to trim
  22. bank — for money
  23. season — in sport
  24. bank — for money

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