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: object · bulb · toast · clip · prune · date · current · rock

  1. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  3. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  4. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  5. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  6. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  7. I've got to change the light ________________.
  8. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  9. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  10. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  11. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  12. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  13. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  14. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  15. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  16. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  17. The light ________________ burned out.
  18. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  19. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  20. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  21. Have you settled on a ________________?
  22. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  23. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  24. Hold the papers together with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. prune — to trim
  3. toast — the most admired
  4. prune — the fruit
  5. toast — bread
  6. current — electric
  7. bulb — for light
  8. date — the fruit
  9. rock — to move gently
  10. bulb — of a plant
  11. date — on the calendar
  12. prune — to trim
  13. clip — a video
  14. current — happening now
  15. rock — music
  16. object — a thing
  17. bulb — for light
  18. current — of water
  19. object — to protest
  20. clip — to cut
  21. date — on the calendar
  22. toast — a drink to someone
  23. object — an aim
  24. clip — for paper

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