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: jam · rash · bore · prune · staff · bulb · club · trunk

  1. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  2. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  3. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  4. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  5. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  6. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  7. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  8. I've got to change the light ________________.
  9. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  10. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  11. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  12. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  13. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  14. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  15. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  16. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  17. Don't do anything ________________.
  18. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  19. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  20. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  21. The light ________________ burned out.
  22. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  23. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  24. A ________________ is just a dried plum.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of an elephant
  2. rash — on the skin
  3. bore — to drill
  4. trunk — of a car
  5. trunk — of a tree
  6. club — for golf
  7. staff — employees
  8. bulb — for light
  9. club — for dancing
  10. bore — gave birth
  11. jam — in traffic
  12. staff — employees
  13. jam — a tight spot
  14. prune — to trim
  15. staff — a stick
  16. rash — a series
  17. rash — hasty
  18. club — a group
  19. bulb — of a plant
  20. bore — to tire
  21. bulb — for light
  22. prune — to trim
  23. jam — to spread on bread
  24. prune — the fruit

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