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. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  2. I've got to change the light ________________.
  3. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  4. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  5. She's very handy with a ________________.
  6. The light ________________ burned out.
  7. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  8. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  9. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  10. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  11. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  12. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  13. He works in a ________________ mill.
  14. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  15. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  16. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  17. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  18. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  19. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  20. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  21. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  22. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  23. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  24. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!

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

Answer key

  1. rest — what's left
  2. bulb — for light
  3. stem — a stem cell
  4. rest — a break
  5. saw — the tool
  6. bulb — for light
  7. bulb — of a plant
  8. net — after costs
  9. rock — to move gently
  10. stem — of a plant
  11. bear — the animal
  12. net — for catching
  13. saw — the tool
  14. rest — what's left
  15. saw — past of 'see'
  16. toast — a drink to someone
  17. stem — to come from
  18. net — in sport
  19. toast — bread
  20. rock — a stone
  21. bear — the animal
  22. rock — music
  23. toast — the most admired
  24. bear — to put up with

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