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 120 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: wound · fine · can · file · rash · pop · bulb · cabinet

  1. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  2. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  3. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  4. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  5. The light ________________ burned out.
  6. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  7. What do you think of the new ________________?
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  10. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. Don't do anything ________________.
  13. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  14. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. I've got to change the light ________________.
  19. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  20. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  21. We're almost out of ________________.
  22. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  23. You don't need to ________________ round.
  24. I assure you, everything's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a document
  2. file — a tool
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. rash — on the skin
  5. bulb — for light
  6. fine — high quality
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. can — a tin
  9. wound — an injury
  10. pop — music
  11. can — to be able to
  12. rash — hasty
  13. cabinet — a cupboard
  14. fine — a penalty
  15. can — a tin
  16. rash — a series
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. bulb — for light
  19. wound — past of 'wind'
  20. file — a line of people
  21. pop — soda
  22. wound — an injury
  23. pop — to visit
  24. fine — all right

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