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. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  2. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  3. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  4. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  5. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  6. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  7. The ________________ went through the wall.
  8. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  9. I've got to change the light ________________.
  10. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  11. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  12. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  13. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  14. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  15. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  16. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  17. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  18. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  19. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  20. The light ________________ burned out.
  21. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  22. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  23. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  24. He keeps ________________ of his days.

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

Answer key

  1. bark — of a tree
  2. stick — a piece of wood
  3. nail — on a finger
  4. rock — to move gently
  5. bulb — of a plant
  6. track — a song
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. bulb — for light
  10. stick — to attach or keep to
  11. kick — in football
  12. kick — a thrill
  13. deal — to handle
  14. bark — to shout
  15. kick — with a leg
  16. bark — a dog's sound
  17. rock — music
  18. stick — a piece of wood
  19. deal — an agreement
  20. bulb — for light
  21. deal — a big deal
  22. rock — a stone
  23. track — a path
  24. track — to keep track

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