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. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  2. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  3. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  4. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  5. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  6. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  7. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  8. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  9. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  10. There's no middle ________________.
  11. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  12. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  13. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  14. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  15. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  16. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  17. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  18. He is an ace ________________.
  19. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  20. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  21. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  22. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  23. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  24. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — to move gently
  2. deal — a big deal
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. row — a quarrel
  5. fan — to cool the air
  6. kick — with a leg
  7. row — a line
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. rock — music
  10. ground — a position
  11. current — electric
  12. deal — an agreement
  13. ground — crushed
  14. current — of water
  15. current — happening now
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. ground — the earth
  18. pitcher — in baseball
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. rock — a stone
  21. kick — in football
  22. deal — to handle
  23. row — to paddle
  24. kick — a thrill

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