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: can · bulb · toast · cabinet · foot · trunk · press · spring

  1. I've got to change the light ________________.
  2. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  3. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  4. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  5. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  6. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  7. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  8. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  9. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  10. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  16. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  17. Did you ________________ the button?
  18. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  19. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  20. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  21. The light ________________ burned out.
  22. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  23. What do you think of the new ________________?
  24. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. press — a publisher
  3. spring — the season
  4. foot — a measure
  5. trunk — of a car
  6. trunk — of an elephant
  7. press — newspapers
  8. cabinet — a cupboard
  9. bulb — of a plant
  10. trunk — of a tree
  11. can — a tin
  12. can — a tin
  13. spring — a coil
  14. can — to be able to
  15. foot — part of the body
  16. toast — a drink to someone
  17. press — to push
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. foot — the bottom
  20. toast — the most admired
  21. bulb — for light
  22. spring — of water
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. toast — bread

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