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: mate · bulb · mark · prune · wake · staff · rush · leaves

  1. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  2. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  3. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  4. That must've been a ________________.
  5. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  6. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  7. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  8. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  9. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  10. I've got to change the light ________________.
  11. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  12. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  13. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  14. The light ________________ burned out.
  15. Have you found your soul ________________?
  16. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  17. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  18. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  19. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  20. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  21. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  22. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  23. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  24. You shouldn't ________________ things.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — of a tree
  2. mate — to breed
  3. wake — before a funeral
  4. rush — a thrill
  5. leaves — to go away
  6. mark — to pay attention
  7. mate — a friend
  8. wake — a trail
  9. leaves — lets stay
  10. bulb — for light
  11. rush — hurry
  12. prune — to trim
  13. prune — the fruit
  14. bulb — for light
  15. mate — a partner
  16. staff — employees
  17. mark — a grade
  18. prune — to trim
  19. wake — to stop sleeping
  20. mark — a trace
  21. staff — a stick
  22. staff — employees
  23. bulb — of a plant
  24. rush — to hurry

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