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. Where did you ________________ them?
  2. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  3. He was locked up in a ________________.
  4. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  5. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  6. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  7. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  8. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  9. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  10. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  11. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  12. I've got to change the light ________________.
  13. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  14. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  15. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  16. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  17. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  18. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  19. The light ________________ burned out.
  20. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  21. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  22. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  23. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  24. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — to rob
  2. bulb — of a plant
  3. cell — in a prison
  4. vault — a safe
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. cell — a phone
  7. mug — a face
  8. vault — in gymnastics
  9. bass — the fish
  10. bass — the instrument
  11. snap — to speak sharply
  12. bulb — for light
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. snap — to click
  15. ruler — a monarch
  16. mouse — for a computer
  17. vault — an arched ceiling
  18. mug — a cup
  19. bulb — for light
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. bass — low music
  22. cell — in biology
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. snap — to snap out of it

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