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: trunk · mark · prune · lash · pop · date · fine · mouse

  1. You don't need to ________________ round.
  2. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  3. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  4. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  5. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  6. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  7. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  8. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  9. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  10. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  11. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  12. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  13. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  14. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  15. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  16. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  17. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  18. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  19. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  20. We're almost out of ________________.
  21. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  22. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  23. Have you settled on a ________________?
  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. pop — to visit
  2. mark — a trace
  3. trunk — of a car
  4. fine — high quality
  5. mouse — for a computer
  6. prune — to trim
  7. date — on the calendar
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. fine — a penalty
  10. mark — a grade
  11. trunk — of an elephant
  12. fine — all right
  13. prune — to trim
  14. lash — a whip stroke
  15. mark — to pay attention
  16. trunk — of a tree
  17. prune — the fruit
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. lash — an eyelash
  20. pop — soda
  21. pop — music
  22. date — the fruit
  23. date — on the calendar
  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