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. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  3. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  4. My father caught me by the ________________.
  5. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  6. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  7. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  8. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  9. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  10. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  11. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  12. I've got to change the light ________________.
  13. The light ________________ burned out.
  14. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  15. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  16. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  17. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  18. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  19. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  20. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  21. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  22. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  23. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  24. Where did you ________________ them?

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

Answer key

  1. current — electric
  2. bulb — of a plant
  3. arm — a part of something
  4. arm — part of the body
  5. mug — a face
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. prune — to trim
  8. cap — a lid
  9. cap — of ice
  10. prune — to trim
  11. cap — a hat
  12. bulb — for light
  13. bulb — for light
  14. calf — of the leg
  15. ruler — a monarch
  16. mug — a cup
  17. current — happening now
  18. current — of water
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. prune — the fruit
  21. arm — part of the body
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. mug — to rob

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