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 captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  2. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  3. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  4. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  5. What do you think of the new ________________?
  6. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  7. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  10. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  11. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  12. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  13. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  14. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  15. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  18. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  19. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  22. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  23. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  24. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. board — to get on
  2. squash — the sport
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. leaves — of a tree
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. trunk — of an elephant
  7. board — a committee
  8. can — a tin
  9. prune — to trim
  10. squash — to crush
  11. squash — the vegetable
  12. prune — to trim
  13. leaves — to go away
  14. prune — the fruit
  15. content — videos and posts
  16. can — a tin
  17. cabinet — a cupboard
  18. board — a flat piece
  19. content — the amount
  20. can — to be able to
  21. leaves — lets stay
  22. trunk — of a car
  23. trunk — of a tree
  24. content — happy

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