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. Have you settled on a ________________?
  2. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  3. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  4. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  5. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  6. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  7. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  8. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  9. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  10. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  11. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  12. The tickets are free of ________________.
  13. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  14. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  15. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  16. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  17. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  18. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  19. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  20. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  21. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  22. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  23. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  24. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. date — on the calendar
  2. leaves — to go away
  3. content — happy
  4. prune — to trim
  5. content — the amount
  6. leaves — lets stay
  7. rock — a stone
  8. leaves — of a tree
  9. pound — to hit hard
  10. date — the fruit
  11. pound — a weight
  12. charge — a price
  13. rock — music
  14. prune — to trim
  15. jam — in traffic
  16. jam — a tight spot
  17. prune — the fruit
  18. pound — for dogs
  19. charge — in control
  20. charge — electricity
  21. rock — to move gently
  22. date — on the calendar
  23. jam — to spread on bread
  24. content — videos and posts

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