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. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  2. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  3. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  4. He was locked up in a ________________.
  5. Where did you ________________ them?
  6. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  7. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  8. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  9. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  10. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  11. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  12. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  13. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  14. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  15. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  16. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  17. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  18. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  19. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  20. He is an ace ________________.
  21. Have you found your soul ________________?
  22. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  23. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. row — a line
  2. prune — the fruit
  3. prune — to trim
  4. cell — in a prison
  5. mug — to rob
  6. row — a quarrel
  7. rock — a stone
  8. mate — a friend
  9. prune — to trim
  10. row — to paddle
  11. mate — to breed
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. cell — in biology
  14. cell — a phone
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. rock — music
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. mug — a cup
  20. pitcher — in baseball
  21. mate — a partner
  22. mouse — for a computer
  23. rock — to move gently
  24. mug — a face

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