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: bowl · bulb · wave · mug · rock · game · bark · fine

  1. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  2. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. Where did you ________________ them?
  4. I've got to change the light ________________.
  5. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  6. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  7. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  8. That was a fun ________________.
  9. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  10. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  11. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. The light ________________ burned out.
  14. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  15. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  16. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  17. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  18. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  19. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  20. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  21. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  22. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  23. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. game — wild animals
  2. rock — a stone
  3. mug — to rob
  4. bulb — for light
  5. bowl — a dish
  6. mug — a cup
  7. bark — a dog's sound
  8. game — a match
  9. rock — to move gently
  10. fine — all right
  11. wave — of the sea
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. bulb — for light
  14. fine — a penalty
  15. bark — of a tree
  16. mug — a face
  17. game — a kind of play
  18. bark — to shout
  19. bowl — to roll
  20. fine — high quality
  21. wave — with your hand
  22. wave — a sudden rise
  23. bowl — a football final
  24. rock — music

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