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. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  2. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  3. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  4. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  5. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  6. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  7. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  8. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  9. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  10. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  11. It's one o'clock ________________.
  12. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  13. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  14. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  15. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  16. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  17. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  18. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  19. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  20. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  21. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  22. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  23. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  24. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — to spread on bread
  2. sharp — clever
  3. bass — the fish
  4. prune — the fruit
  5. bore — to tire
  6. bass — the instrument
  7. racket — for tennis
  8. mark — a grade
  9. prune — to trim
  10. mark — a trace
  11. sharp — exactly
  12. racket — a loud noise
  13. jam — a tight spot
  14. craft — boats
  15. jam — in traffic
  16. craft — a skill
  17. bore — gave birth
  18. prune — to trim
  19. racket — for tennis
  20. mark — to pay attention
  21. bass — low music
  22. sharp — with an edge
  23. craft — a handicraft
  24. bore — to drill

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