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 116 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. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  3. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  4. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  5. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  6. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  7. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  8. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  9. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  10. It's one o'clock ________________.
  11. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  12. I've got to change the light ________________.
  13. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  14. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  15. How do you ________________ your surname?
  16. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  17. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  18. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  19. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  20. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  21. He is an ace ________________.
  22. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  23. The light ________________ burned out.
  24. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. stick — to attach or keep to
  3. spell — magic
  4. bass — the instrument
  5. sharp — with an edge
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. bass — the fish
  8. drill — a practice
  9. rock — music
  10. sharp — exactly
  11. stick — a piece of wood
  12. bulb — for light
  13. stick — a piece of wood
  14. bass — low music
  15. spell — letters
  16. bulb — of a plant
  17. drill — the tool
  18. rock — to move gently
  19. spell — a short time
  20. sharp — clever
  21. pitcher — in baseball
  22. drill — army training
  23. bulb — for light
  24. pitcher — a jug

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