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. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  2. She's very handy with a ________________.
  3. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  4. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  5. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  6. He works in a ________________ mill.
  7. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  8. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  9. The tickets are free of ________________.
  10. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  11. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  12. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  13. Where did you ________________ them?
  14. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  15. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  16. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  17. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  18. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  19. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  20. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  21. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  22. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. Where can I ________________ my mobile?

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

Answer key

  1. prune — the fruit
  2. saw — the tool
  3. charge — in control
  4. current — happening now
  5. bark — a dog's sound
  6. saw — the tool
  7. current — of water
  8. prune — to trim
  9. charge — a price
  10. saw — past of 'see'
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. net — for catching
  13. mug — to rob
  14. current — electric
  15. bark — of a tree
  16. prune — to trim
  17. mug — a cup
  18. mouse — for a computer
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. net — after costs
  21. net — in sport
  22. bark — to shout
  23. mug — a face
  24. charge — electricity

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