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. That was ________________ to happen.
  2. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  3. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  4. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  5. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  6. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  7. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  8. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  9. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  10. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  11. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  12. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  13. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  14. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  15. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  16. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  17. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  18. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  19. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  20. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  21. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  22. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  23. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  24. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — certain
  2. trunk — of a tree
  3. trunk — of an elephant
  4. snap — to speak sharply
  5. bear — to put up with
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. bound — obliged
  8. jam — to spread on bread
  9. prune — to trim
  10. rock — a stone
  11. bear — the animal
  12. jam — a tight spot
  13. bear — the animal
  14. trunk — of a car
  15. rock — to move gently
  16. snap — to click
  17. rock — music
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. jam — in traffic
  20. prune — to trim
  21. bound — tied together
  22. ruler — a monarch
  23. prune — the fruit
  24. snap — to snap out of it

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