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. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  2. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  3. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  4. I've got to change the light ________________.
  5. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  6. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  7. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  8. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  9. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  10. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  11. This piece is in a major ________________.
  12. The light ________________ burned out.
  13. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  14. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  15. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  16. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  17. Have you found your soul ________________?
  18. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  19. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  20. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  21. That must've been a ________________.
  22. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  23. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  24. Hard work is the ________________ to success.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — of a plant
  2. file — a document
  3. pit — in a race
  4. bulb — for light
  5. mate — a friend
  6. file — a tool
  7. deal — a big deal
  8. mate — to breed
  9. rush — hurry
  10. key — for a lock
  11. key — in music
  12. bulb — for light
  13. bass — low music
  14. pit — a fruit stone
  15. bass — the instrument
  16. file — a line of people
  17. mate — a partner
  18. deal — an agreement
  19. pit — a hole
  20. deal — to handle
  21. rush — a thrill
  22. bass — the fish
  23. rush — to hurry
  24. key — the most important part

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