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 124 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'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  2. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  3. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  4. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  5. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  6. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  7. We're on a ________________ here.
  8. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  9. When was this ________________ built?
  10. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  11. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  12. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  13. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  14. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  15. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  16. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  17. Did you ________________ the button?
  18. What do you think of the new ________________?
  19. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  20. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  21. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  22. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  23. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  24. My father caught me by the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. arm — part of the body
  2. current — of water
  3. current — electric
  4. arm — a part of something
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. roll — a cake
  7. roll — on a roll
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. patient — calm and waiting
  11. temple — side of the head
  12. patient — a sick person
  13. board — to get on
  14. cabinet — a cupboard
  15. board — a flat piece
  16. current — happening now
  17. press — to push
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. patient — a sick person
  20. roll — a list
  21. press — a publisher
  22. press — newspapers
  23. board — a committee
  24. arm — part of the body

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