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. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  2. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  3. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  4. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  5. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  6. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  7. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  8. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  9. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  10. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  11. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  12. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  13. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  14. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  15. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  16. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. The King held a masked ________________.
  21. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  22. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  23. There's no middle ________________.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. current — happening now
  2. branch — of a tree
  3. degree — temperature
  4. track — a song
  5. ground — crushed
  6. current — of water
  7. current — electric
  8. ball — a great time
  9. degree — an amount
  10. ruler — a monarch
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. branch — of a bank
  13. ball — a round shape
  14. track — to keep track
  15. degree — from a university
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. track — a path
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. ball — a dance
  21. branch — a division
  22. ground — the earth
  23. ground — a position
  24. safe — out of danger

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