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: current · mate · ruler · season · bulb · pop · net · fine

  1. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  2. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  3. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  4. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  5. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  6. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  7. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  8. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  9. You don't need to ________________ round.
  10. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  11. I've got to change the light ________________.
  12. Did you ________________ the meat?
  13. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  14. Have you found your soul ________________?
  15. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  16. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  17. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  18. The light ________________ burned out.
  19. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  20. We're almost out of ________________.
  21. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  22. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  23. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  24. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — of a plant
  2. net — for catching
  3. ruler — a monarch
  4. fine — high quality
  5. season — of the year
  6. season — in sport
  7. current — happening now
  8. net — in sport
  9. pop — to visit
  10. mate — to breed
  11. bulb — for light
  12. season — to add flavour
  13. fine — a penalty
  14. mate — a partner
  15. current — of water
  16. pop — music
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. bulb — for light
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. pop — soda
  21. fine — all right
  22. current — electric
  23. net — after costs
  24. mate — a friend

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