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. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  2. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  3. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  4. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  5. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  6. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  7. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  8. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  9. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  10. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  11. The light ________________ burned out.
  12. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  13. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  14. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  15. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  16. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  17. I've got to change the light ________________.
  18. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  19. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  20. That must've been a ________________.
  21. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  22. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  23. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  24. The old man leaned on his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — music
  2. prune — the fruit
  3. wake — a trail
  4. wake — to stop sleeping
  5. bulb — of a plant
  6. wake — before a funeral
  7. hand — part of the body
  8. racket — a loud noise
  9. racket — for tennis
  10. hand — in cards
  11. bulb — for light
  12. hand — help
  13. staff — employees
  14. racket — for tennis
  15. rock — a stone
  16. staff — employees
  17. bulb — for light
  18. prune — to trim
  19. rush — to hurry
  20. rush — a thrill
  21. prune — to trim
  22. rush — hurry
  23. rock — to move gently
  24. staff — a stick

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