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. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  2. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  3. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  4. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  5. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  6. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  7. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  8. Have you settled on a ________________?
  9. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  10. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  11. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  12. I'll be taking the ________________.
  13. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  14. The tickets are free of ________________.
  15. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  16. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  17. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  18. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  19. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  20. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  21. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  22. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  23. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  24. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. current — of water
  2. club — a group
  3. mine — an explosive
  4. dip — to sink
  5. charge — in control
  6. tube — in a tire
  7. club — for dancing
  8. date — on the calendar
  9. current — happening now
  10. date — the fruit
  11. dip — a sauce
  12. tube — the underground
  13. bear — to put up with
  14. charge — a price
  15. current — electric
  16. date — on the calendar
  17. charge — electricity
  18. tube — a container
  19. dip — to dunk
  20. mine — belonging to me
  21. club — for golf
  22. mine — for digging
  23. bear — the animal
  24. bear — 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