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 116 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. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  2. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  3. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  4. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  5. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  6. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  7. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  8. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  9. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  10. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  11. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  12. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  13. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  14. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  15. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  16. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  17. I've got to change the light ________________.
  18. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  19. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  20. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  21. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  22. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  23. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  24. The light ________________ burned out.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — of a plant
  2. chip — for betting
  3. chip — to eat
  4. pass — a permit
  5. bass — low music
  6. pitch — completely
  7. mark — a trace
  8. wax — in the ear
  9. pass — to spend time
  10. fan — to cool the air
  11. pitch — a sports field
  12. mark — a grade
  13. bass — the fish
  14. wax — for sculpting
  15. wax — to grow
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. bulb — for light
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. chip — in a computer
  20. pass — to succeed
  21. bass — the instrument
  22. mark — to pay attention
  23. pitch — a sales talk
  24. bulb — for light

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