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: fork · prune · deal · bass · rush · hide · bulb · band

  1. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  2. I've got to change the light ________________.
  3. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  4. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  5. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  6. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  7. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  8. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  9. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  10. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  11. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  12. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  13. The light ________________ burned out.
  14. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  15. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  16. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  17. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  19. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  20. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  21. That must've been a ________________.
  22. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  23. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  24. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?

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

Answer key

  1. hide — to keep secret
  2. bulb — for light
  3. band — a rubber band
  4. bass — the fish
  5. bulb — of a plant
  6. rush — hurry
  7. fork — a garden tool
  8. deal — to handle
  9. band — a music group
  10. band — a ring
  11. fork — to eat with
  12. deal — an agreement
  13. bulb — for light
  14. prune — to trim
  15. fork — in a road
  16. prune — the fruit
  17. bass — low music
  18. rush — to hurry
  19. deal — a big deal
  20. prune — to trim
  21. rush — a thrill
  22. hide — animal skin
  23. bass — the instrument
  24. hide — to keep secret

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