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. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  2. We're on a ________________ here.
  3. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  4. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  5. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  6. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  7. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  8. The ________________ market has crashed.
  9. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  10. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  11. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  12. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  13. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  14. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  15. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  16. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  17. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  18. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  19. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  20. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  21. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  22. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  23. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  24. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.

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

Answer key

  1. fall — the season
  2. roll — on a roll
  3. prune — to trim
  4. fall — to drop
  5. roll — a cake
  6. deal — a big deal
  7. cap — a hat
  8. stock — shares
  9. bore — to tire
  10. fall — to drop
  11. leaves — to go away
  12. stock — goods
  13. leaves — of a tree
  14. roll — a list
  15. deal — to handle
  16. stock — a soup base
  17. bore — to drill
  18. prune — to trim
  19. leaves — lets stay
  20. cap — a lid
  21. cap — of ice
  22. prune — the fruit
  23. deal — an agreement
  24. bore — gave birth

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