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: tube · roll · toast · rash · bulb · stem · fan · foot

  1. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  2. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  3. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  4. I've got to change the light ________________.
  5. I'll be taking the ________________.
  6. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  7. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  8. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  9. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  10. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  11. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  12. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  13. We're on a ________________ here.
  14. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  15. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  16. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  17. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  18. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  19. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  20. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  21. Don't do anything ________________.
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  24. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — part of the body
  2. toast — bread
  3. rash — a series
  4. bulb — for light
  5. tube — the underground
  6. roll — a list
  7. rash — on the skin
  8. tube — in a tire
  9. stem — a stem cell
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. bulb — of a plant
  12. toast — a drink to someone
  13. roll — on a roll
  14. fan — to cool the air
  15. toast — the most admired
  16. tube — a container
  17. foot — the bottom
  18. foot — a measure
  19. stem — of a plant
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. rash — hasty
  22. bulb — for light
  23. stem — to come from
  24. roll — a cake

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