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: prune · jam · suit · patient · fall · bay · season · chip

  1. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  2. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  3. When will it ________________ you to start?
  4. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  5. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  6. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  7. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  8. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  9. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  10. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  11. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  12. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  13. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  14. Did you ________________ the meat?
  15. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  16. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  17. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  18. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  19. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  20. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  21. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  22. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  23. My mare is ________________ in color.
  24. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.

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

Answer key

  1. patient — calm and waiting
  2. season — in sport
  3. suit — to fit
  4. patient — a sick person
  5. season — of the year
  6. fall — the season
  7. prune — to trim
  8. chip — in a computer
  9. bay — a part of the sea
  10. jam — in traffic
  11. fall — to drop
  12. suit — clothes
  13. jam — to spread on bread
  14. season — to add flavour
  15. prune — the fruit
  16. chip — for betting
  17. patient — a sick person
  18. bay — to keep at bay
  19. jam — a tight spot
  20. suit — in cards
  21. fall — to drop
  22. prune — to trim
  23. bay — a horse colour
  24. chip — to eat

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