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. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  2. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  3. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  4. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  5. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  6. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  7. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  8. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  9. You don't need to ________________ round.
  10. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  11. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  12. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  13. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  14. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  15. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  16. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  17. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  18. We're almost out of ________________.
  19. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  20. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  21. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  22. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  23. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  24. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.

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

Answer key

  1. fall — the season
  2. jam — a tight spot
  3. board — a flat piece
  4. prune — to trim
  5. bear — the animal
  6. board — to get on
  7. prune — to trim
  8. fall — to drop
  9. pop — to visit
  10. deal — to handle
  11. jam — to spread on bread
  12. deal — an agreement
  13. jam — in traffic
  14. bear — to put up with
  15. bear — the animal
  16. pass — to succeed
  17. prune — the fruit
  18. pop — soda
  19. deal — a big deal
  20. board — a committee
  21. fall — to drop
  22. pop — music
  23. pass — a permit
  24. pass — to spend time

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