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. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  2. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  3. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  4. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  5. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  6. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  7. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  10. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  11. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  12. Don't do anything ________________.
  13. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  14. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  15. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  16. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  17. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  18. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  19. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  20. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  21. He is an ace ________________.
  22. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  23. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  24. I have a corn on my right ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. vault — a safe
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. mark — a trace
  4. wave — of the sea
  5. current — of water
  6. foot — a measure
  7. mouse — for a computer
  8. current — electric
  9. rash — a series
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. current — happening now
  12. rash — hasty
  13. vault — in gymnastics
  14. wave — a sudden rise
  15. vault — an arched ceiling
  16. wave — with your hand
  17. mark — to pay attention
  18. rash — on the skin
  19. foot — the bottom
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. pitcher — in baseball
  22. mark — a grade
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. foot — part of the body

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