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: saw · jam · cabinet · shower · rock · net · bulb · squash

  1. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  2. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  3. What do you think of the new ________________?
  4. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  5. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  6. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  7. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  8. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  9. The light ________________ burned out.
  10. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  11. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  12. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  13. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  14. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  15. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  16. She's very handy with a ________________.
  17. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  18. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  19. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  20. He works in a ________________ mill.
  21. I've got to change the light ________________.
  22. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  23. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  24. We were using a ________________ as a seat.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — past of 'see'
  2. net — for catching
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. squash — to crush
  5. jam — in traffic
  6. bulb — of a plant
  7. jam — to spread on bread
  8. rock — to move gently
  9. bulb — for light
  10. shower — a meteor shower
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. squash — the vegetable
  13. jam — a tight spot
  14. cabinet — a cupboard
  15. squash — the sport
  16. saw — the tool
  17. shower — rain
  18. shower — to wash
  19. net — in sport
  20. saw — the tool
  21. bulb — for light
  22. net — after costs
  23. rock — music
  24. rock — a stone

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