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 116 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 from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: mouse · prune · saw · leaves · bear · swing

  1. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  2. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  3. David sat on the ________________.
  4. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  5. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  6. He works in a ________________ mill.
  7. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  8. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  9. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  10. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  11. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  12. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  13. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  14. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  15. She's very handy with a ________________.
  16. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  17. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  18. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.

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

Answer key

  1. swing — in golf
  2. prune — the fruit
  3. swing — to play on
  4. leaves — to go away
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. saw — the tool
  7. bear — to put up with
  8. saw — past of 'see'
  9. leaves — of a tree
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. bear — the animal
  12. swing — music
  13. mouse — for a computer
  14. prune — to trim
  15. saw — the tool
  16. leaves — lets stay
  17. bear — the animal
  18. prune — to trim

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