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: pass · lean · leaves · chair · date · rush · trunk · mine

  1. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  2. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  3. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  4. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  5. That must've been a ________________.
  6. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  7. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  8. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  9. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  10. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  11. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  12. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  13. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  14. Have you settled on a ________________?
  15. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  16. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  17. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  18. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  19. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  20. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  21. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  22. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  23. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  24. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — of a tree
  2. rush — to hurry
  3. chair — a leader
  4. lean — to rest against
  5. rush — a thrill
  6. leaves — lets stay
  7. lean — thin
  8. trunk — of an elephant
  9. mine — belonging to me
  10. date — on the calendar
  11. trunk — of a car
  12. mine — an explosive
  13. trunk — of a tree
  14. date — on the calendar
  15. rush — hurry
  16. chair — to sit on
  17. date — the fruit
  18. leaves — to go away
  19. mine — for digging
  20. pass — to succeed
  21. chair — a professorship
  22. pass — a permit
  23. pass — to spend time
  24. lean — to bend

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