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: rush · squash · bulb · lean · face · firm · net · bark

  1. I've got to change the light ________________.
  2. That must've been a ________________.
  3. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  4. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  5. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  6. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  7. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  8. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  9. The light ________________ burned out.
  10. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  11. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  12. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  13. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  14. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  15. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  16. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  17. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  18. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  19. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  20. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  21. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  22. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  23. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  24. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. rush — a thrill
  3. firm — steady
  4. bark — of a tree
  5. face — to point toward
  6. net — for catching
  7. squash — to crush
  8. face — part of the head
  9. bulb — for light
  10. lean — thin
  11. lean — to rest against
  12. firm — a company
  13. face — to confront
  14. rush — hurry
  15. rush — to hurry
  16. bark — a dog's sound
  17. net — in sport
  18. bulb — of a plant
  19. net — after costs
  20. lean — to bend
  21. firm — decided
  22. squash — the sport
  23. bark — to shout
  24. squash — the vegetable

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