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. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  2. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  3. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  4. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  7. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  8. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  9. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  10. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  11. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  12. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  13. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  14. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  15. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  16. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  17. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  18. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. Did you ________________ the meat?
  21. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  22. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  23. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  24. Spring is a pleasant ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of a tree
  2. face — part of the head
  3. prune — to trim
  4. band — a rubber band
  5. can — a tin
  6. band — a music group
  7. season — in sport
  8. rock — a stone
  9. band — a ring
  10. rock — music
  11. trunk — of a car
  12. file — a line of people
  13. trunk — of an elephant
  14. file — a document
  15. prune — to trim
  16. face — to confront
  17. rock — to move gently
  18. face — to point toward
  19. can — to be able to
  20. season — to add flavour
  21. prune — the fruit
  22. file — a tool
  23. can — a tin
  24. season — of the year

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