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: bulb · trunk · plane · cap · arm · bank · pop · mine

  1. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  2. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  3. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  4. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  5. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  6. We're almost out of ________________.
  7. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  8. I've got to change the light ________________.
  9. My father caught me by the ________________.
  10. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  11. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  12. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  13. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  14. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  15. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  16. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  17. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  18. The ________________ took off on time.
  19. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  20. You don't need to ________________ round.
  21. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  24. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — a tool
  2. bank — for money
  3. pop — music
  4. bank — of a river
  5. trunk — of a tree
  6. pop — soda
  7. cap — of ice
  8. bulb — for light
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. trunk — of an elephant
  11. arm — a part of something
  12. cap — a lid
  13. cap — a hat
  14. mine — an explosive
  15. bank — for money
  16. mine — for digging
  17. mine — belonging to me
  18. plane — an aircraft
  19. arm — part of the body
  20. pop — to visit
  21. bulb — of a plant
  22. bulb — for light
  23. trunk — of a car
  24. plane — in geometry

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