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. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  2. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  3. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  4. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  5. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  6. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  7. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  8. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  9. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  10. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  11. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  12. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  13. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  14. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  15. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  16. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  17. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  18. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  19. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  20. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  21. Don't do anything ________________.
  22. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  23. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  24. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.

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

Answer key

  1. prune — to trim
  2. prune — the fruit
  3. hide — animal skin
  4. bass — low music
  5. dip — to dunk
  6. chip — for betting
  7. dip — a sauce
  8. rash — on the skin
  9. ruler — a monarch
  10. chip — to eat
  11. hide — to keep secret
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. toast — the most admired
  14. bass — the instrument
  15. toast — bread
  16. hide — to keep secret
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. prune — to trim
  19. rash — a series
  20. bass — the fish
  21. rash — hasty
  22. chip — in a computer
  23. toast — a drink to someone
  24. dip — to sink

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