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 120 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. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  2. The light ________________ burned out.
  3. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  4. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  5. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  6. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  7. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  8. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  9. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  10. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  11. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  12. I've got to change the light ________________.
  13. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  14. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  15. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  16. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  17. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  18. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  19. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  20. What do you think of the new ________________?
  21. My father caught me by the ________________.
  22. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  23. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  24. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.

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

Answer key

  1. lean — thin
  2. bulb — for light
  3. club — for dancing
  4. prune — to trim
  5. racket — for tennis
  6. club — a group
  7. foot — part of the body
  8. arm — a part of something
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. foot — the bottom
  11. club — for golf
  12. bulb — for light
  13. lean — to rest against
  14. foot — a measure
  15. prune — the fruit
  16. racket — a loud noise
  17. lean — to bend
  18. racket — for tennis
  19. cabinet — a cupboard
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. arm — part of the body
  22. bulb — of a plant
  23. prune — to trim
  24. arm — part of the body

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