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

  1. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  2. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  3. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  4. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  5. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  6. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  7. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  8. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  9. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  10. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  11. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  12. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  13. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  14. When are we going to ________________?
  15. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  16. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  17. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  18. He works in a ________________ mill.
  19. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  20. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  21. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  22. She's very handy with a ________________.
  23. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  24. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.

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

Answer key

  1. craft — a skill
  2. current — happening now
  3. craft — a handicraft
  4. wave — with your hand
  5. foot — part of the body
  6. current — electric
  7. cap — a lid
  8. land — a country
  9. current — of water
  10. wave — of the sea
  11. toast — the most admired
  12. cap — of ice
  13. foot — the bottom
  14. land — to come down
  15. saw — past of 'see'
  16. land — ground
  17. craft — boats
  18. saw — the tool
  19. cap — a hat
  20. toast — a drink to someone
  21. wave — a sudden rise
  22. saw — the tool
  23. foot — a measure
  24. toast — bread

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