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. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  2. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  3. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  4. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  7. Have you settled on a ________________?
  8. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  9. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  10. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  11. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  12. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  13. The light ________________ burned out.
  14. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  15. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  16. My mare is ________________ in color.
  17. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  18. I can't ________________ this cold.
  19. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  20. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  21. That was ________________ to happen.
  22. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  23. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  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. bulb — of a plant
  2. branch — of a bank
  3. wake — to stop sleeping
  4. wake — a trail
  5. bulb — for light
  6. bore — gave birth
  7. date — on the calendar
  8. wake — before a funeral
  9. date — the fruit
  10. bay — to keep at bay
  11. bore — to tire
  12. branch — a division
  13. bulb — for light
  14. bound — tied together
  15. stand — for spectators
  16. bay — a horse colour
  17. bound — obliged
  18. stand — to bear
  19. bay — a part of the sea
  20. date — on the calendar
  21. bound — certain
  22. stand — on your feet
  23. branch — of a tree
  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