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. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  2. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  3. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  4. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  5. The light ________________ burned out.
  6. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  7. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  8. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  9. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  10. The ________________ went through the wall.
  11. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  12. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  13. I've got to change the light ________________.
  14. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  15. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  16. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  17. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  18. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  19. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  20. Have you settled on a ________________?
  21. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  22. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  23. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  24. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — music
  2. date — on the calendar
  3. cue — a hint
  4. foot — part of the body
  5. bulb — for light
  6. date — the fruit
  7. mine — for digging
  8. nail — on a finger
  9. cue — for pool
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. foot — a measure
  12. mine — belonging to me
  13. bulb — for light
  14. rock — to move gently
  15. racket — a loud noise
  16. bulb — of a plant
  17. rock — a stone
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. racket — for tennis
  20. date — on the calendar
  21. foot — the bottom
  22. mine — an explosive
  23. racket — for tennis
  24. cue — a signal

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