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. I've got to change the light ________________.
  2. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  3. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  4. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  5. The light ________________ burned out.
  6. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  7. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  8. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  9. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  10. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  14. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  15. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  16. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  17. I can't ________________ this cold.
  18. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  19. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  20. What do you think of the new ________________?
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  23. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  24. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. capital — a big letter
  3. bulb — of a plant
  4. capital — money
  5. bulb — for light
  6. leaves — of a tree
  7. leaves — lets stay
  8. leaves — to go away
  9. file — a line of people
  10. file — a tool
  11. can — to be able to
  12. can — a tin
  13. cabinet — a cupboard
  14. file — a document
  15. capital — a city
  16. stand — for spectators
  17. stand — to bear
  18. wax — for sculpting
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. can — a tin
  22. stand — on your feet
  23. wax — to grow
  24. wax — in the ear

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