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: foot · trunk · fan · coach · pop · bore · band · bound

  1. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  2. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  3. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  4. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  5. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  6. You don't need to ________________ round.
  7. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  8. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  9. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  10. We're almost out of ________________.
  11. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  12. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  13. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  14. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  15. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  16. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  17. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  18. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  19. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  20. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  21. That was ________________ to happen.
  22. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  23. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  24. Have you met the new head ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. band — a rubber band
  3. trunk — of a car
  4. bore — gave birth
  5. bound — tied together
  6. pop — to visit
  7. coach — pulled by horses
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. foot — a measure
  10. pop — soda
  11. pop — music
  12. trunk — of a tree
  13. trunk — of an elephant
  14. bore — to drill
  15. foot — part of the body
  16. bore — to tire
  17. band — a ring
  18. bound — obliged
  19. fan — to cool the air
  20. foot — the bottom
  21. bound — certain
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. band — a music group
  24. coach — a trainer

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