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. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  3. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  4. He works in a ________________ mill.
  5. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  6. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  7. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  8. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  9. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  10. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  11. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  12. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  13. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  14. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  15. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  16. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  17. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  18. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  19. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  20. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  21. She's very handy with a ________________.
  22. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  23. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  24. I've got the luggage in my ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. board — a committee
  2. board — a flat piece
  3. bank — for money
  4. saw — the tool
  5. bank — of a river
  6. drill — the tool
  7. rock — to move gently
  8. mark — to pay attention
  9. fan — to cool the air
  10. drill — a practice
  11. drill — army training
  12. trunk — of an elephant
  13. trunk — of a tree
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. rock — a stone
  17. mark — a grade
  18. mark — a trace
  19. rock — music
  20. bank — for money
  21. saw — the tool
  22. saw — past of 'see'
  23. board — to get on
  24. trunk — of a car

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