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 116 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: swing · suit · scale · fall · pound · rest · bulb · pit

  1. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  2. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  3. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  4. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  5. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  6. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  7. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  8. I've got to change the light ________________.
  9. The light ________________ burned out.
  10. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  11. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  12. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  13. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  14. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  15. When will it ________________ you to start?
  16. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  17. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  18. David sat on the ________________.
  19. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  20. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  21. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  22. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  23. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  24. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.

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

Answer key

  1. rest — what's left
  2. scale — in music
  3. rest — a break
  4. scale — size or range
  5. fall — to drop
  6. pit — a hole
  7. fall — the season
  8. bulb — for light
  9. bulb — for light
  10. swing — in golf
  11. scale — for weighing
  12. swing — music
  13. pit — in a race
  14. pound — a weight
  15. suit — to fit
  16. pit — a fruit stone
  17. pound — for dogs
  18. swing — to play on
  19. suit — in cards
  20. suit — clothes
  21. fall — to drop
  22. pound — to hit hard
  23. rest — what's left
  24. bulb — of a plant

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