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. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  2. That was ________________ to happen.
  3. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  4. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  5. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  6. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  7. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  8. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  9. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  10. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  11. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  12. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  13. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  14. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  15. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  16. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  17. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  18. The ________________ went through the wall.
  19. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  20. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  21. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  22. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  23. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  24. ________________ games are popular in Germany.

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

Answer key

  1. kick — with a leg
  2. bound — certain
  3. current — of water
  4. nail — on a finger
  5. mark — to pay attention
  6. bound — obliged
  7. current — electric
  8. board — to get on
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. drill — a practice
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. kick — in football
  13. drill — the tool
  14. mark — a trace
  15. current — happening now
  16. lie — to recline
  17. drill — army training
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. kick — a thrill
  20. board — a committee
  21. mark — a grade
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. bound — tied together
  24. board — a flat piece

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