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. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  2. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  3. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  4. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  5. You don't need to ________________ round.
  6. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  7. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  8. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  9. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  10. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  11. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  12. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  13. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  14. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  15. We're almost out of ________________.
  16. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  17. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  18. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  19. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  20. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  21. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  22. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  23. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  24. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to drill
  2. trunk — of a tree
  3. pop — music
  4. deal — to handle
  5. pop — to visit
  6. bore — gave birth
  7. deal — a big deal
  8. bowl — a football final
  9. track — a path
  10. deal — an agreement
  11. degree — from a university
  12. pit — in a race
  13. track — a song
  14. trunk — of an elephant
  15. pop — soda
  16. pit — a fruit stone
  17. track — to keep track
  18. bowl — to roll
  19. pit — a hole
  20. trunk — of a car
  21. degree — an amount
  22. degree — temperature
  23. bore — to tire
  24. bowl — a dish

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