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 hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  2. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  3. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  4. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  5. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  6. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  7. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  8. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  9. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  10. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  11. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  12. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  13. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  14. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  15. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  16. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  17. When was this ________________ built?
  18. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  19. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  20. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  21. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  22. How do you ________________ your surname?
  23. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  24. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a trace
  2. prune — the fruit
  3. cue — a hint
  4. current — happening now
  5. temple — side of the head
  6. cue — for pool
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. current — electric
  10. mark — to pay attention
  11. spell — magic
  12. bark — of a tree
  13. current — of water
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. mark — a grade
  16. fan — to cool the air
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. spell — a short time
  19. bark — to shout
  20. prune — to trim
  21. prune — to trim
  22. spell — letters
  23. bark — a dog's sound
  24. cue — a signal

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