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: fan · mate · squash · pit · bulb · suit · band · trunk

  1. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  2. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  3. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  4. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  7. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  8. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  9. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  10. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  11. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  12. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  13. When will it ________________ you to start?
  14. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  15. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  16. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  17. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  18. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  19. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  20. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  21. Have you found your soul ________________?
  22. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  23. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  24. The light ________________ burned out.

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

Answer key

  1. mate — to breed
  2. suit — clothes
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. band — a rubber band
  5. bulb — for light
  6. bulb — of a plant
  7. trunk — of a tree
  8. squash — the sport
  9. band — a ring
  10. mate — a friend
  11. fan — to cool the air
  12. squash — the vegetable
  13. suit — to fit
  14. suit — in cards
  15. band — a music group
  16. pit — a hole
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. trunk — of a car
  19. trunk — of an elephant
  20. squash — to crush
  21. mate — a partner
  22. pit — a fruit stone
  23. pit — in a race
  24. bulb — for light

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