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. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  2. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  3. We're almost out of ________________.
  4. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  5. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  6. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  7. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  8. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  9. Did you ________________ the meat?
  10. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  11. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  12. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  13. Have you found your soul ________________?
  14. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  15. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  16. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  17. Where did you ________________ them?
  18. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  19. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  20. You don't need to ________________ round.
  21. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  22. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  23. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  24. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a face
  2. mate — a friend
  3. pop — soda
  4. snap — to speak sharply
  5. prune — the fruit
  6. trunk — of an elephant
  7. mug — a cup
  8. snap — to click
  9. season — to add flavour
  10. trunk — of a tree
  11. season — in sport
  12. bowl — a football final
  13. mate — a partner
  14. prune — to trim
  15. bowl — to roll
  16. mate — to breed
  17. mug — to rob
  18. snap — to snap out of it
  19. trunk — of a car
  20. pop — to visit
  21. prune — to trim
  22. bowl — a dish
  23. season — of the year
  24. pop — music

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