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 lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  2. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  3. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  4. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  7. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  8. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  9. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  10. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  11. The light ________________ burned out.
  12. That must've been a ________________.
  13. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  14. When are we going to ________________?
  15. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  16. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  17. That was ________________ to happen.
  18. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  19. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  20. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  21. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  22. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  23. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  24. My mare is ________________ in color.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — with your hand
  2. firm — a company
  3. bulb — of a plant
  4. drill — a practice
  5. bulb — for light
  6. firm — decided
  7. drill — army training
  8. bound — tied together
  9. bay — to keep at bay
  10. wave — of the sea
  11. bulb — for light
  12. rush — a thrill
  13. firm — steady
  14. land — to come down
  15. rush — hurry
  16. drill — the tool
  17. bound — certain
  18. land — a country
  19. land — ground
  20. bound — obliged
  21. bay — a part of the sea
  22. rush — to hurry
  23. wave — a sudden rise
  24. bay — a horse colour

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