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. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  2. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  3. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  4. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  5. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. I've got to change the light ________________.
  8. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  9. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  10. When are we going to ________________?
  11. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  12. The light ________________ burned out.
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  15. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  16. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  17. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  18. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  19. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  20. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  21. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  22. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — gave birth
  2. trunk — of a car
  3. bore — to tire
  4. land — ground
  5. net — for catching
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. bulb — for light
  8. jam — to spread on bread
  9. trunk — of a tree
  10. land — to come down
  11. bank — of a river
  12. bulb — for light
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. bank — for money
  15. net — after costs
  16. bulb — of a plant
  17. bank — for money
  18. jam — a tight spot
  19. net — in sport
  20. trunk — of an elephant
  21. bore — to drill
  22. land — a country
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. jam — in traffic

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