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: track · bulb · press · pass · prune · arm · spell · sharp

  1. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  4. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  5. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  6. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  7. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  8. The light ________________ burned out.
  9. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  10. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  11. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  12. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  13. Did you ________________ the button?
  14. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  15. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  16. It's one o'clock ________________.
  17. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  18. How do you ________________ your surname?
  19. My father caught me by the ________________.
  20. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  21. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  22. I've got to change the light ________________.
  23. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  24. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. track — a song
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. pass — a permit
  4. prune — to trim
  5. bulb — of a plant
  6. press — newspapers
  7. pass — to succeed
  8. bulb — for light
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. spell — a short time
  11. prune — to trim
  12. prune — the fruit
  13. press — to push
  14. arm — a part of something
  15. press — a publisher
  16. sharp — exactly
  17. sharp — with an edge
  18. spell — letters
  19. arm — part of the body
  20. sharp — clever
  21. track — to keep track
  22. bulb — for light
  23. track — a path
  24. spell — magic

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