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: can · press · bay · fall · bulb · prune · suit · spell

  1. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. The light ________________ burned out.
  3. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  4. How do you ________________ your surname?
  5. When will it ________________ you to start?
  6. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  7. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  8. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  11. Did you ________________ the button?
  12. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  13. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  14. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  15. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  16. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  17. I've got to change the light ________________.
  18. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  19. My mare is ________________ in color.
  20. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  21. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  22. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  23. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  24. ________________ you help me carry this box?

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. bulb — for light
  3. press — a publisher
  4. spell — letters
  5. suit — to fit
  6. prune — to trim
  7. bulb — of a plant
  8. bay — a part of the sea
  9. can — a tin
  10. fall — the season
  11. press — to push
  12. spell — magic
  13. spell — a short time
  14. prune — the fruit
  15. fall — to drop
  16. bay — to keep at bay
  17. bulb — for light
  18. suit — clothes
  19. bay — a horse colour
  20. prune — to trim
  21. fall — to drop
  22. press — newspapers
  23. suit — in cards
  24. can — to be able to

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