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. That must've been a ________________.
  2. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  3. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  4. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  5. I can't ________________ this cold.
  6. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  7. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  8. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  9. The light ________________ burned out.
  10. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  11. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  12. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  13. Did you ________________ the meat?
  14. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  15. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  16. Where did you ________________ them?
  17. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  18. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  19. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  20. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  21. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  22. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  23. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  24. I've got to change the light ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — a thrill
  2. stand — on your feet
  3. mug — a face
  4. prune — to trim
  5. stand — to bear
  6. mine — an explosive
  7. mine — for digging
  8. squash — to crush
  9. bulb — for light
  10. stand — for spectators
  11. mug — a cup
  12. prune — to trim
  13. season — to add flavour
  14. rush — hurry
  15. rush — to hurry
  16. mug — to rob
  17. squash — the vegetable
  18. squash — the sport
  19. prune — the fruit
  20. mine — belonging to me
  21. season — in sport
  22. bulb — of a plant
  23. season — of the year
  24. bulb — for light

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