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. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  2. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  4. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  5. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  6. He is an ace ________________.
  7. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  8. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  11. I'll be taking the ________________.
  12. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  13. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  14. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  15. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  16. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  17. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  18. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  19. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  20. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  21. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  22. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  23. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  24. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — a jug
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. toast — the most admired
  4. prune — the fruit
  5. bore — to drill
  6. pitcher — in baseball
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. snap — to snap out of it
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. prune — to trim
  11. tube — the underground
  12. bore — to tire
  13. rock — music
  14. tube — a container
  15. rock — a stone
  16. bore — gave birth
  17. snap — to click
  18. toast — bread
  19. prune — to trim
  20. rock — to move gently
  21. tube — in a tire
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. snap — to speak sharply
  24. toast — a drink to someone

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