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

Word bank: coach · bulb · can · land · lie · bass · mark · mug

  1. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  2. I've got to change the light ________________.
  3. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  4. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  7. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  8. The light ________________ burned out.
  9. When are we going to ________________?
  10. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  11. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  12. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  13. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  14. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  15. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  16. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  17. Have you met the new head ________________?
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  20. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  21. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  22. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  23. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  24. Where did you ________________ them?

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

Answer key

  1. can — to be able to
  2. bulb — for light
  3. land — a country
  4. bass — the fish
  5. can — a tin
  6. mark — a grade
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. bulb — for light
  9. land — to come down
  10. bass — low music
  11. mug — a face
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. bulb — of a plant
  14. mark — to pay attention
  15. land — ground
  16. lie — to recline
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. can — a tin
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. mug — a cup
  21. bass — the instrument
  22. coach — pulled by horses
  23. mark — a trace
  24. mug — to rob

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