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 need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  2. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  3. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  4. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  5. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  6. The light ________________ burned out.
  7. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  8. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  9. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  10. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  11. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  16. I'll be taking the ________________.
  17. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  18. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  19. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  20. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  21. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  22. I've got to change the light ________________.
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.

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

Answer key

  1. tube — in a tire
  2. dip — to dunk
  3. dip — to sink
  4. fine — high quality
  5. mouse — for a computer
  6. bulb — for light
  7. clip — to cut
  8. tube — a container
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. rock — a stone
  11. rock — to move gently
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. clip — a video
  14. can — a tin
  15. rock — music
  16. tube — the underground
  17. clip — for paper
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. fine — all right
  20. can — a tin
  21. dip — a sauce
  22. bulb — for light
  23. can — to be able to
  24. fine — a penalty

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