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. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  2. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  3. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  4. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  5. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  6. When are we going to ________________?
  7. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  8. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  9. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  10. I've got to change the light ________________.
  11. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  12. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  13. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  14. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  15. Have you met the new head ________________?
  16. The light ________________ burned out.
  17. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  18. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  19. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  20. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  21. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  22. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  23. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  24. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to sink
  2. bulb — of a plant
  3. rock — music
  4. board — to get on
  5. rock — a stone
  6. land — to come down
  7. coach — pulled by horses
  8. land — ground
  9. board — a flat piece
  10. bulb — for light
  11. rock — to move gently
  12. pit — in a race
  13. dip — a sauce
  14. pit — a fruit stone
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. bulb — for light
  17. staff — a stick
  18. land — a country
  19. pit — a hole
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. staff — employees
  22. board — a committee
  23. dip — to dunk
  24. staff — employees

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