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. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  2. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  3. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  4. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  5. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  6. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  7. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  8. The light ________________ burned out.
  9. I've got to change the light ________________.
  10. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  11. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  14. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  15. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  16. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  17. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  18. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  19. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  20. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  21. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  22. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  23. My mare is ________________ in color.
  24. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. object — a thing
  2. fan — to cool the air
  3. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  4. jam — a tight spot
  5. pit — in a race
  6. jam — to spread on bread
  7. staff — a stick
  8. bulb — for light
  9. bulb — for light
  10. kid — child
  11. jam — in traffic
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. pit — a fruit stone
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. pit — a hole
  17. staff — employees
  18. kid — to tease
  19. object — to protest
  20. object — an aim
  21. bay — a part of the sea
  22. staff — employees
  23. bay — a horse colour
  24. bay — to keep at bay

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