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: stick · fine · bulb · tube · lash · stem · saw · leaves

  1. He works in a ________________ mill.
  2. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  3. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  4. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  5. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  8. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  9. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  10. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  11. I'll be taking the ________________.
  12. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  13. The light ________________ burned out.
  14. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  15. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  16. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  17. She's very handy with a ________________.
  18. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  19. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  20. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  21. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  22. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  23. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  24. The ________________ change colour in autumn.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. lash — to lash out
  3. tube — a container
  4. fine — all right
  5. stick — to attach or keep to
  6. bulb — for light
  7. stem — to come from
  8. stick — a piece of wood
  9. leaves — to go away
  10. stem — of a plant
  11. tube — the underground
  12. fine — high quality
  13. bulb — for light
  14. saw — past of 'see'
  15. stick — a piece of wood
  16. leaves — lets stay
  17. saw — the tool
  18. stem — a stem cell
  19. tube — in a tire
  20. lash — a whip stroke
  21. lash — an eyelash
  22. fine — a penalty
  23. bulb — of a plant
  24. leaves — of a tree

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