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: saw · can · root · bore · land · prune · bulb · bound

  1. I've got to change the light ________________.
  2. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  3. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  4. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  5. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  6. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. She's very handy with a ________________.
  9. That was ________________ to happen.
  10. He works in a ________________ mill.
  11. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  12. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  13. When are we going to ________________?
  14. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  15. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  16. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. The light ________________ burned out.
  20. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  21. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  22. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  23. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  24. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. saw — past of 'see'
  3. bore — to tire
  4. root — of a word
  5. bore — gave birth
  6. root — of a plant
  7. can — a tin
  8. saw — the tool
  9. bound — certain
  10. saw — the tool
  11. bulb — of a plant
  12. prune — to trim
  13. land — to come down
  14. bore — to drill
  15. land — ground
  16. prune — the fruit
  17. can — to be able to
  18. can — a tin
  19. bulb — for light
  20. bound — obliged
  21. land — a country
  22. bound — tied together
  23. root — the cause
  24. prune — to trim

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