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: jam · bulb · file · mate · field · object · trunk · can

  1. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  4. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  5. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  6. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  7. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  8. Have you found your soul ________________?
  9. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  10. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  11. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  12. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  13. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  14. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  15. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  16. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  17. I've got to change the light ________________.
  18. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. The light ________________ burned out.
  21. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  22. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  23. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  24. The elephant has a huge ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a tool
  2. can — a tin
  3. field — a subject
  4. file — a line of people
  5. jam — in traffic
  6. bulb — of a plant
  7. jam — a tight spot
  8. mate — a partner
  9. trunk — of a car
  10. field — for sport
  11. object — a thing
  12. object — to protest
  13. trunk — of a tree
  14. mate — a friend
  15. object — an aim
  16. jam — to spread on bread
  17. bulb — for light
  18. mate — to breed
  19. can — to be able to
  20. bulb — for light
  21. file — a document
  22. field — farmland
  23. can — a tin
  24. trunk — of an elephant

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