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: prune · suit · craft · jam · press · hand · pitcher · wave

  1. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  2. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  3. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  4. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  5. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  6. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  7. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  8. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  9. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  10. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  11. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  12. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  13. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  14. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  15. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  16. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  17. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  18. When will it ________________ you to start?
  19. He is an ace ________________.
  20. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  21. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  22. Did you ________________ the button?
  23. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  24. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — clothes
  2. wave — with your hand
  3. jam — to spread on bread
  4. hand — in cards
  5. prune — the fruit
  6. jam — a tight spot
  7. press — a publisher
  8. hand — part of the body
  9. pitcher — a jug
  10. craft — a skill
  11. craft — a handicraft
  12. hand — help
  13. press — newspapers
  14. wave — of the sea
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. prune — to trim
  17. jam — in traffic
  18. suit — to fit
  19. pitcher — in baseball
  20. craft — boats
  21. prune — to trim
  22. press — to push
  23. suit — in cards
  24. wave — a sudden rise

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