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 120 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. I've got to change the light ________________.
  2. She's very handy with a ________________.
  3. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  4. It's one o'clock ________________.
  5. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  6. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  7. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  8. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  9. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  10. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  11. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  12. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  13. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  14. He works in a ________________ mill.
  15. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  16. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  17. The light ________________ burned out.
  18. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  19. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  20. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  21. Did you ________________ the meat?
  22. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  23. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  24. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. saw — the tool
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. sharp — exactly
  5. stick — a piece of wood
  6. ruler — a monarch
  7. stick — a piece of wood
  8. pass — a permit
  9. trunk — of an elephant
  10. trunk — of a car
  11. sharp — clever
  12. season — of the year
  13. bulb — of a plant
  14. saw — the tool
  15. stick — to attach or keep to
  16. sharp — with an edge
  17. bulb — for light
  18. season — in sport
  19. saw — past of 'see'
  20. pass — to spend time
  21. season — to add flavour
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. pass — to succeed
  24. trunk — of a tree

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