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: net · toast · lean · board · bulb · racket · fan · pound

  1. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  2. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  3. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  4. I've got to change the light ________________.
  5. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  6. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  7. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  8. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  9. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  10. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  11. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  12. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  13. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  14. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  15. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  16. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  17. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  18. The light ________________ burned out.
  19. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  20. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  21. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  22. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  23. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  24. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.

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

Answer key

  1. racket — a loud noise
  2. pound — for dogs
  3. toast — the most admired
  4. bulb — for light
  5. board — a flat piece
  6. pound — to hit hard
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. net — for catching
  9. racket — for tennis
  10. lean — to rest against
  11. lean — thin
  12. racket — for tennis
  13. net — in sport
  14. toast — bread
  15. net — after costs
  16. board — to get on
  17. fan — to cool the air
  18. bulb — for light
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. pound — a weight
  21. toast — a drink to someone
  22. bulb — of a plant
  23. board — a committee
  24. lean — to bend

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