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. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  2. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  3. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  4. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  7. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  8. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  9. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  10. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  11. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  12. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. I've got to change the light ________________.
  15. The light ________________ burned out.
  16. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  17. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  18. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  19. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  20. Have you found your soul ________________?
  21. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  22. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  23. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  24. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mate — a friend
  2. mate — to breed
  3. spring — the season
  4. spring — a coil
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. jam — in traffic
  7. jam — to spread on bread
  8. jam — a tight spot
  9. lean — to rest against
  10. bulb — of a plant
  11. bass — low music
  12. bass — the instrument
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. bulb — for light
  15. bulb — for light
  16. lean — thin
  17. lean — to bend
  18. mark — to pay attention
  19. mark — a grade
  20. mate — a partner
  21. mark — a trace
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. bass — the fish
  24. spring — of water

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