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. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. The King held a masked ________________.
  3. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  4. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  5. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  6. It's one o'clock ________________.
  7. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  8. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  9. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  10. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  11. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  12. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  13. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  14. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  15. The ________________ went through the wall.
  16. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  17. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  18. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  19. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  20. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  21. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  22. The tickets are free of ________________.
  23. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  24. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. ball — a dance
  3. ball — a round shape
  4. field — for sport
  5. sharp — with an edge
  6. sharp — exactly
  7. drill — army training
  8. bore — to drill
  9. nail — on a finger
  10. field — a subject
  11. drill — the tool
  12. drill — a practice
  13. bore — to tire
  14. sharp — clever
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. charge — electricity
  19. mouse — for a computer
  20. field — farmland
  21. ball — a great time
  22. charge — a price
  23. bore — gave birth
  24. mouse — the animal

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