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. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  2. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  3. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  4. Where did you ________________ them?
  5. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  6. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  7. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  8. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  9. That was a fun ________________.
  10. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  11. The light ________________ burned out.
  12. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  13. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  14. I've got to change the light ________________.
  15. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  16. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  17. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  18. We're almost out of ________________.
  19. When will it ________________ you to start?
  20. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  21. You don't need to ________________ round.
  22. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  23. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  24. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — in cards
  2. mug — a face
  3. mouse — for a computer
  4. mug — to rob
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. mug — a cup
  7. foot — part of the body
  8. bulb — of a plant
  9. game — a match
  10. fork — to eat with
  11. bulb — for light
  12. fork — a garden tool
  13. suit — clothes
  14. bulb — for light
  15. fork — in a road
  16. game — a kind of play
  17. game — wild animals
  18. pop — soda
  19. suit — to fit
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. pop — to visit
  22. pop — music
  23. foot — a measure
  24. foot — the bottom

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