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 in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  2. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  5. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  10. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  11. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  12. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  13. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  14. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  15. I've got to change the light ________________.
  16. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  17. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  18. The light ________________ burned out.
  19. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  20. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  21. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  22. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  23. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  24. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — a permit
  2. fall — the season
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. net — after costs
  5. pass — to succeed
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. rock — music
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. fall — to drop
  10. bulb — of a plant
  11. bore — to tire
  12. net — in sport
  13. current — electric
  14. current — of water
  15. bulb — for light
  16. bore — gave birth
  17. rock — a stone
  18. bulb — for light
  19. net — for catching
  20. fall — to drop
  21. pass — to spend time
  22. rock — to move gently
  23. bore — to drill
  24. current — happening now

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