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. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. David sat on the ________________.
  3. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  4. You don't need to ________________ round.
  5. The ________________ went through the wall.
  6. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  7. The tickets are free of ________________.
  8. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  9. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  10. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  11. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  12. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  13. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  14. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  15. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  16. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  17. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  18. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  19. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  20. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  21. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  22. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  23. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  24. We're almost out of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. swing — to play on
  3. bass — the fish
  4. pop — to visit
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. swing — music
  7. charge — a price
  8. swing — in golf
  9. bass — the instrument
  10. cap — a lid
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. pop — music
  13. cap — a hat
  14. bass — low music
  15. nail — on a finger
  16. lash — an eyelash
  17. prune — to trim
  18. charge — electricity
  19. prune — the fruit
  20. lash — a whip stroke
  21. prune — to trim
  22. lash — to lash out
  23. cap — of ice
  24. pop — soda

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