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 120 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 · prune · hand · lie · bulb · mark · staff · craft

  1. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  2. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  3. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  4. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  5. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  6. The light ________________ burned out.
  7. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  8. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  9. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  10. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  11. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  12. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  13. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  14. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  15. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  16. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  17. I've got to change the light ________________.
  18. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  19. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  20. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  21. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  22. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  23. That must've been a ________________.
  24. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. prune — to trim
  3. mark — a trace
  4. prune — to trim
  5. staff — employees
  6. bulb — for light
  7. rush — hurry
  8. craft — boats
  9. rush — to hurry
  10. staff — a stick
  11. lie — to recline
  12. mark — to pay attention
  13. prune — the fruit
  14. staff — employees
  15. hand — help
  16. hand — in cards
  17. bulb — for light
  18. mark — a grade
  19. craft — a skill
  20. hand — part of the body
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. craft — a handicraft
  23. rush — a thrill
  24. bulb — of a plant

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