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: rash · coach · mark · bank · stick · bulb · march · racket

  1. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  2. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  3. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  4. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  5. Don't do anything ________________.
  6. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  7. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  8. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  9. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  10. The light ________________ burned out.
  11. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  12. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  13. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  14. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  15. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  16. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  17. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  18. I've got to change the light ________________.
  19. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  20. Have you met the new head ________________?
  21. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  22. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  23. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  24. I seem to be developing a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — of a plant
  2. mark — a grade
  3. stick — to attach or keep to
  4. rash — a series
  5. rash — hasty
  6. coach — pulled by horses
  7. mark — a trace
  8. bank — for money
  9. march — music
  10. bulb — for light
  11. racket — for tennis
  12. mark — to pay attention
  13. stick — a piece of wood
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. racket — a loud noise
  16. racket — for tennis
  17. stick — a piece of wood
  18. bulb — for light
  19. bank — of a river
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. march — the month
  22. bank — for money
  23. march — the month
  24. rash — on the skin

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