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. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  2. The tickets are free of ________________.
  3. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  4. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  5. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  6. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  7. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  8. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  9. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  10. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  11. She's very handy with a ________________.
  12. There's no middle ________________.
  13. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  14. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  15. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  16. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  17. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  18. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  19. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  20. He works in a ________________ mill.
  21. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  22. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  23. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  24. The old man leaned on his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ground — the earth
  2. charge — a price
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. ground — crushed
  5. lean — thin
  6. lean — to rest against
  7. staff — employees
  8. charge — in control
  9. rock — to move gently
  10. fan — to cool the air
  11. saw — the tool
  12. ground — a position
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. charge — electricity
  15. cap — of ice
  16. staff — employees
  17. cap — a hat
  18. rock — a stone
  19. lean — to bend
  20. saw — the tool
  21. cap — a lid
  22. saw — past of 'see'
  23. rock — music
  24. staff — a stick

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