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. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  2. Where did you ________________ them?
  3. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  4. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  5. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  6. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  7. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  8. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  9. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  10. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  11. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  12. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  13. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  14. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  15. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  16. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  17. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  18. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  19. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  20. The King held a masked ________________.
  21. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  22. We're on a ________________ here.
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. The ________________ went through the wall.

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

Answer key

  1. roll — a list
  2. mug — to rob
  3. patient — a sick person
  4. prune — to trim
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. nail — on a finger
  7. ball — a round shape
  8. foot — a measure
  9. patient — calm and waiting
  10. mug — a cup
  11. prune — to trim
  12. foot — part of the body
  13. foot — the bottom
  14. leaves — to go away
  15. roll — a cake
  16. patient — a sick person
  17. ball — a great time
  18. prune — the fruit
  19. leaves — of a tree
  20. ball — a dance
  21. leaves — lets stay
  22. roll — on a roll
  23. mug — a face
  24. nail — for a hammer

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