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: kid · trunk · suit · fall · roll · wave · mark · bound

  1. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  2. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  3. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  4. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  5. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  6. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  7. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  8. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  9. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  10. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  11. We're on a ________________ here.
  12. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  13. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  14. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  15. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  16. That was ________________ to happen.
  17. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  18. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  19. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  20. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  21. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  22. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  23. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  24. When will it ________________ you to start?

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

Answer key

  1. bound — tied together
  2. kid — child
  3. mark — a trace
  4. bound — obliged
  5. mark — a grade
  6. trunk — of an elephant
  7. kid — to tease
  8. suit — clothes
  9. trunk — of a tree
  10. fall — the season
  11. roll — on a roll
  12. wave — of the sea
  13. roll — a cake
  14. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  15. trunk — of a car
  16. bound — certain
  17. roll — a list
  18. fall — to drop
  19. fall — to drop
  20. wave — a sudden rise
  21. mark — to pay attention
  22. suit — in cards
  23. wave — with your hand
  24. suit — to fit

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