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 116 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: rush · bulb · craft · bound · rock · track · season · lie

  1. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  2. I've got to change the light ________________.
  3. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  4. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  5. That must've been a ________________.
  6. The light ________________ burned out.
  7. Did you ________________ the meat?
  8. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  9. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  10. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  11. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  12. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  13. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  14. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  15. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  16. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  17. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  18. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  19. That was ________________ to happen.
  20. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  21. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  22. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  23. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  24. We were using a ________________ as a seat.

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

Answer key

  1. season — in sport
  2. bulb — for light
  3. bound — tied together
  4. rush — hurry
  5. rush — a thrill
  6. bulb — for light
  7. season — to add flavour
  8. craft — a handicraft
  9. lie — to recline
  10. bulb — of a plant
  11. rock — to move gently
  12. rush — to hurry
  13. craft — boats
  14. bound — obliged
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. track — to keep track
  17. track — a song
  18. rock — music
  19. bound — certain
  20. track — a path
  21. craft — a skill
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. season — of the year
  24. rock — a stone

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