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. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. He is an ace ________________.
  3. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  4. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  5. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  6. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  7. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  8. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  9. You don't need to ________________ round.
  10. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  11. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  12. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  13. I've got to change the light ________________.
  14. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  15. We're almost out of ________________.
  16. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  17. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  18. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  21. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  24. Would you like some apricot ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. pitcher — in baseball
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. bulb — of a plant
  5. prune — the fruit
  6. rock — music
  7. prune — to trim
  8. board — a committee
  9. pop — to visit
  10. jam — in traffic
  11. lash — a whip stroke
  12. lash — an eyelash
  13. bulb — for light
  14. board — to get on
  15. pop — soda
  16. jam — a tight spot
  17. lash — to lash out
  18. pop — music
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. board — a flat piece
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. bulb — for light
  23. prune — to trim
  24. jam — to spread on bread

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