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. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  2. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  3. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  4. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  5. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  8. The light ________________ burned out.
  9. The ________________ took off on time.
  10. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  11. She's very handy with a ________________.
  12. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  13. He works in a ________________ mill.
  14. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  15. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  16. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  17. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  18. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  19. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  20. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  21. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  22. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  23. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  24. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.

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

Answer key

  1. current — electric
  2. drill — the tool
  3. deal — a big deal
  4. drill — army training
  5. current — of water
  6. bulb — for light
  7. deal — to handle
  8. bulb — for light
  9. plane — an aircraft
  10. drill — a practice
  11. saw — the tool
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. saw — the tool
  14. bulb — of a plant
  15. bank — of a river
  16. plane — in geometry
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. bank — for money
  19. current — happening now
  20. saw — past of 'see'
  21. fan — to cool the air
  22. plane — a tool
  23. deal — an agreement
  24. bank — for money

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