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. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  2. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  3. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  4. Don't do anything ________________.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  7. I've got to change the light ________________.
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  10. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. We're almost out of ________________.
  13. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  14. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  15. That was ________________ to happen.
  16. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  17. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  18. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  19. How do you ________________ your surname?
  20. The light ________________ burned out.
  21. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  22. You don't need to ________________ round.
  23. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  24. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.

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

Answer key

  1. pop — music
  2. bulb — of a plant
  3. squash — to crush
  4. rash — hasty
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. craft — boats
  7. bulb — for light
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. bound — tied together
  10. rash — a series
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. pop — soda
  13. squash — the sport
  14. craft — a skill
  15. bound — certain
  16. spell — a short time
  17. rash — on the skin
  18. bound — obliged
  19. spell — letters
  20. bulb — for light
  21. squash — the vegetable
  22. pop — to visit
  23. spell — magic
  24. craft — a handicraft

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