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. You don't need to ________________ round.
  2. We're almost out of ________________.
  3. The light ________________ burned out.
  4. He works in a ________________ mill.
  5. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  6. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  7. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  8. She's very handy with a ________________.
  9. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  10. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  11. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  12. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  13. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  14. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  15. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  16. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  17. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  18. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  19. I've got to change the light ________________.
  20. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  21. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  22. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  23. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  24. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.

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

Answer key

  1. pop — to visit
  2. pop — soda
  3. bulb — for light
  4. saw — the tool
  5. fine — a penalty
  6. trunk — of a tree
  7. net — in sport
  8. saw — the tool
  9. squash — to crush
  10. pass — a permit
  11. squash — the vegetable
  12. fine — high quality
  13. net — for catching
  14. squash — the sport
  15. bulb — of a plant
  16. trunk — of a car
  17. saw — past of 'see'
  18. fine — all right
  19. bulb — for light
  20. pass — to spend time
  21. trunk — of an elephant
  22. net — after costs
  23. pass — to succeed
  24. pop — music

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