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: field · season · trunk · bear · pass · cabinet · pop · scale

  1. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  2. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  3. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  4. Did you ________________ the meat?
  5. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  6. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  7. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  8. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  9. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  10. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  11. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  12. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  13. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  14. We're almost out of ________________.
  15. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  16. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  17. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  18. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  19. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  20. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  21. You don't need to ________________ round.
  22. What do you think of the new ________________?
  23. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  24. I've got the luggage in my ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of a tree
  2. field — farmland
  3. season — of the year
  4. season — to add flavour
  5. scale — for weighing
  6. bear — the animal
  7. pass — to spend time
  8. bear — to put up with
  9. trunk — of an elephant
  10. pop — music
  11. bear — the animal
  12. scale — size or range
  13. cabinet — a cupboard
  14. pop — soda
  15. pass — a permit
  16. scale — in music
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. pass — to succeed
  19. field — for sport
  20. season — in sport
  21. pop — to visit
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. field — a subject
  24. trunk — of a car

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