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: patient · mark · can · dip · prune · bark · bay · cue

  1. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  3. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  6. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  7. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  8. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  9. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  10. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  11. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  12. My mare is ________________ in color.
  13. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  14. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  15. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  16. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  17. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  18. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  19. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  20. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  21. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  24. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. bark — to shout
  3. bay — to keep at bay
  4. can — to be able to
  5. dip — to dunk
  6. cue — a hint
  7. patient — calm and waiting
  8. cue — for pool
  9. mark — to pay attention
  10. cue — a signal
  11. bark — of a tree
  12. bay — a horse colour
  13. prune — to trim
  14. bay — a part of the sea
  15. dip — a sauce
  16. patient — a sick person
  17. mark — a trace
  18. prune — to trim
  19. prune — the fruit
  20. dip — to sink
  21. mark — a grade
  22. can — a tin
  23. patient — a sick person
  24. bark — a dog's sound

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