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

  1. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  2. The light ________________ burned out.
  3. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  4. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  7. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  8. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  9. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  10. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  11. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  12. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  13. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  14. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  15. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  16. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  17. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  18. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  19. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  20. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  21. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  22. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  23. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  24. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — with your hand
  2. bulb — for light
  3. current — of water
  4. straw — dry grass
  5. bulb — for light
  6. march — the month
  7. wave — of the sea
  8. march — the month
  9. leaves — to go away
  10. straw — a straw man
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. current — electric
  13. march — music
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. straw — to clutch at straws
  16. track — to keep track
  17. leaves — of a tree
  18. current — happening now
  19. track — a path
  20. calf — of the leg
  21. leaves — lets stay
  22. track — a song
  23. bulb — of a plant
  24. wave — a sudden rise

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