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. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  2. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  3. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  4. That must've been a ________________.
  5. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  6. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  7. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  8. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  9. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  10. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  13. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  14. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  15. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  16. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  17. He is an ace ________________.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  20. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  21. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  22. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  23. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. wake — before a funeral
  2. staff — employees
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. rush — a thrill
  5. present — there
  6. wake — a trail
  7. wave — with your hand
  8. prune — to trim
  9. wave — of the sea
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. prune — to trim
  13. staff — a stick
  14. rush — hurry
  15. rush — to hurry
  16. staff — employees
  17. pitcher — in baseball
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. present — a gift
  20. wake — to stop sleeping
  21. wave — a sudden rise
  22. present — the time now
  23. prune — the fruit
  24. safe — out of danger

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