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. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  2. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  3. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  4. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  5. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  6. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  7. The tickets are free of ________________.
  8. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  9. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  10. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  11. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  12. That was ________________ to happen.
  13. It's one o'clock ________________.
  14. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  15. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  16. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  17. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  18. Where did you ________________ them?
  19. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  20. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  21. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  22. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of an elephant
  2. charge — electricity
  3. prune — to trim
  4. trunk — of a car
  5. prune — the fruit
  6. pitch — a sports field
  7. charge — a price
  8. trunk — of a tree
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. bound — obliged
  11. mouse — for a computer
  12. bound — certain
  13. sharp — exactly
  14. sharp — with an edge
  15. bound — tied together
  16. charge — in control
  17. pitch — completely
  18. mug — to rob
  19. pitch — a sales talk
  20. prune — to trim
  21. sharp — clever
  22. mug — a cup
  23. mug — a face
  24. mouse — the animal

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