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. You don't need to ________________ round.
  2. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  3. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  4. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  5. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  6. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  7. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  8. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  9. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  10. I've got to change the light ________________.
  11. The King held a masked ________________.
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  14. My father caught me by the ________________.
  15. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  16. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  17. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  18. We're almost out of ________________.
  19. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  20. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  21. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  22. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  23. The light ________________ burned out.
  24. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.

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

Answer key

  1. pop — to visit
  2. pop — music
  3. scale — size or range
  4. pit — in a race
  5. arm — a part of something
  6. ball — a round shape
  7. drill — a practice
  8. drill — army training
  9. scale — for weighing
  10. bulb — for light
  11. ball — a dance
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. scale — in music
  14. arm — part of the body
  15. pit — a hole
  16. drill — the tool
  17. foot — part of the body
  18. pop — soda
  19. pit — a fruit stone
  20. ball — a great time
  21. arm — part of the body
  22. foot — the bottom
  23. bulb — for light
  24. foot — a measure

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