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: bulb · present · pitcher · face · lash · ball · leaves · bark

  1. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  2. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  3. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  4. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  5. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  8. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  9. The King held a masked ________________.
  10. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  11. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  12. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  13. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  14. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  15. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  16. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  17. He is an ace ________________.
  18. The light ________________ burned out.
  19. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  20. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  21. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  22. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  23. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  24. She had a strange look on her ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bark — to shout
  2. leaves — lets stay
  3. present — there
  4. ball — a round shape
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. bulb — for light
  7. bulb — of a plant
  8. leaves — to go away
  9. ball — a dance
  10. lash — an eyelash
  11. ball — a great time
  12. bark — of a tree
  13. lash — a whip stroke
  14. present — the time now
  15. present — a gift
  16. face — to confront
  17. pitcher — in baseball
  18. bulb — for light
  19. bark — a dog's sound
  20. leaves — of a tree
  21. face — to point toward
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. lash — to lash out
  24. face — part of the head

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