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. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  2. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  3. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  4. You don't need to ________________ round.
  5. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  6. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  7. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  8. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  9. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  10. I've got to change the light ________________.
  11. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  12. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  13. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  14. I'll be taking the ________________.
  15. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  16. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  17. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  18. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  19. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  20. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  21. We're almost out of ________________.
  22. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  23. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  24. The light ________________ burned out.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — the bottom
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. mark — a grade
  4. pop — to visit
  5. hand — help
  6. hand — in cards
  7. tube — a container
  8. rest — a break
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. bulb — for light
  11. tube — in a tire
  12. rest — what's left
  13. foot — a measure
  14. tube — the underground
  15. mark — a trace
  16. foot — part of the body
  17. rest — what's left
  18. bulb — of a plant
  19. pop — music
  20. hand — part of the body
  21. pop — soda
  22. mark — to pay attention
  23. fan — to cool the air
  24. bulb — for light

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