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: rush · pitcher · foot · mate · snap · bulb · bowl · rock

  1. That must've been a ________________.
  2. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  3. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  4. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  5. Have you found your soul ________________?
  6. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  7. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  8. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  9. I've got to change the light ________________.
  10. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  11. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  12. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  13. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  14. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  15. He is an ace ________________.
  16. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  17. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  18. The light ________________ burned out.
  19. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  20. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  21. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  22. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  23. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  24. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — a thrill
  2. snap — to click
  3. rock — to move gently
  4. mate — a friend
  5. mate — a partner
  6. foot — the bottom
  7. bowl — a dish
  8. rush — to hurry
  9. bulb — for light
  10. bowl — a football final
  11. foot — part of the body
  12. rush — hurry
  13. bowl — to roll
  14. snap — to speak sharply
  15. pitcher — in baseball
  16. rock — music
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. bulb — for light
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. mate — to breed
  21. bulb — of a plant
  22. snap — to snap out of it
  23. rock — a stone
  24. foot — a measure

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