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: last · bulb · field · can · lash · bore · prune · net

  1. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  2. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  3. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  4. I've got to change the light ________________.
  5. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  6. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  7. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  8. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  11. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  12. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  13. False peace will not ________________.
  14. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  15. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  16. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  17. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  21. The light ________________ burned out.
  22. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  23. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  24. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.

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

Answer key

  1. net — in sport
  2. last — finally
  3. bulb — of a plant
  4. bulb — for light
  5. field — for sport
  6. net — after costs
  7. lash — an eyelash
  8. net — for catching
  9. can — a tin
  10. prune — the fruit
  11. bore — to tire
  12. field — farmland
  13. last — to go on
  14. bore — gave birth
  15. lash — a whip stroke
  16. field — a subject
  17. bore — to drill
  18. can — to be able to
  19. can — a tin
  20. prune — to trim
  21. bulb — for light
  22. last — final
  23. prune — to trim
  24. lash — to lash out

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