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. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  2. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  3. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  4. That was ________________ to happen.
  5. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  6. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  7. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  8. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  9. The ball is in your ________________.
  10. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  11. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  12. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  13. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  14. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  15. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  16. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  17. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  18. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  19. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  20. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  21. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  22. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  23. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  24. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.

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

Answer key

  1. current — happening now
  2. court — of a king
  3. fan — to cool the air
  4. bound — certain
  5. bound — obliged
  6. board — a flat piece
  7. foot — part of the body
  8. bowl — a football final
  9. court — for sport
  10. branch — of a tree
  11. court — of law
  12. branch — of a bank
  13. branch — a division
  14. board — to get on
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. bowl — to roll
  17. bowl — a dish
  18. current — of water
  19. board — a committee
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. foot — a measure
  22. foot — the bottom
  23. current — electric
  24. bound — tied together

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