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: tube · arm · hand · bulb · bound · dip · rest · drill

  1. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  2. I've got to change the light ________________.
  3. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  4. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  5. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  6. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  7. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  8. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  9. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  10. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  11. My father caught me by the ________________.
  12. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  13. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  14. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  15. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  16. The light ________________ burned out.
  17. That was ________________ to happen.
  18. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  19. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  20. I'll be taking the ________________.
  21. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  22. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  23. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  24. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — obliged
  2. bulb — for light
  3. dip — to sink
  4. drill — the tool
  5. hand — part of the body
  6. rest — what's left
  7. arm — a part of something
  8. rest — a break
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. drill — a practice
  11. arm — part of the body
  12. tube — a container
  13. drill — army training
  14. rest — what's left
  15. hand — in cards
  16. bulb — for light
  17. bound — certain
  18. dip — to dunk
  19. bulb — of a plant
  20. tube — the underground
  21. hand — help
  22. tube — in a tire
  23. bound — tied together
  24. dip — a sauce

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