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. The light ________________ burned out.
  2. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  3. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  4. What do you think of the new ________________?
  5. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  6. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  7. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  8. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  9. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  10. He works in a ________________ mill.
  11. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  12. I've got to change the light ________________.
  13. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  14. She's very handy with a ________________.
  15. The tickets are free of ________________.
  16. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  17. Did you ________________ the meat?
  18. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  19. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  20. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  21. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  22. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  23. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  24. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. saw — past of 'see'
  3. season — of the year
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. fan — to cool the air
  6. craft — boats
  7. charge — electricity
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. bulb — of a plant
  10. saw — the tool
  11. craft — a handicraft
  12. bulb — for light
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. saw — the tool
  15. charge — a price
  16. cabinet — a cupboard
  17. season — to add flavour
  18. kick — with a leg
  19. kick — a thrill
  20. charge — in control
  21. kick — in football
  22. craft — a skill
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. season — in sport

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