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. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  2. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  3. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  4. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  5. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  6. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  7. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  10. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  11. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  12. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  15. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  18. My father caught me by the ________________.
  19. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  20. The ________________ took off on time.
  21. That must've been a ________________.
  22. Where did you ________________ them?
  23. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. prune — the fruit
  2. rush — to hurry
  3. prune — to trim
  4. mug — a cup
  5. band — a music group
  6. rush — hurry
  7. plane — in geometry
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. drill — the tool
  10. plane — a tool
  11. prune — to trim
  12. arm — part of the body
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. band — a rubber band
  15. drill — army training
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. drill — a practice
  18. arm — part of the body
  19. arm — a part of something
  20. plane — an aircraft
  21. rush — a thrill
  22. mug — to rob
  23. band — a ring
  24. mug — a face

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