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. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  2. That was ________________ to happen.
  3. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  4. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  5. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  6. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  7. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  10. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. He is an ace ________________.
  13. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  14. I'll be taking the ________________.
  15. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  16. The tickets are free of ________________.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  19. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  20. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  21. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  22. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  23. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  24. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.

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

Answer key

  1. board — a committee
  2. bound — certain
  3. foot — the bottom
  4. board — to get on
  5. charge — in control
  6. charge — electricity
  7. foot — part of the body
  8. can — a tin
  9. bound — obliged
  10. tube — a container
  11. can — a tin
  12. pitcher — in baseball
  13. board — a flat piece
  14. tube — the underground
  15. net — for catching
  16. charge — a price
  17. can — to be able to
  18. net — after costs
  19. foot — a measure
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. net — in sport
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. bound — tied together
  24. tube — in a tire

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