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. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  4. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  5. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  6. The light ________________ burned out.
  7. I've got to change the light ________________.
  8. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  9. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  10. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  11. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  12. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  13. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  16. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  17. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  18. The ________________ market has crashed.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  21. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  22. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  23. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  24. ________________ games are popular in Germany.

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

Answer key

  1. prune — to trim
  2. can — a tin
  3. prune — the fruit
  4. bulb — of a plant
  5. wax — to grow
  6. bulb — for light
  7. bulb — for light
  8. stock — goods
  9. board — to get on
  10. spring — the season
  11. board — a committee
  12. leaves — of a tree
  13. spring — of water
  14. can — a tin
  15. wax — in the ear
  16. spring — a coil
  17. prune — to trim
  18. stock — shares
  19. can — to be able to
  20. leaves — to go away
  21. leaves — lets stay
  22. wax — for sculpting
  23. stock — a soup base
  24. board — a flat piece

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