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. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  2. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  3. That was ________________ to happen.
  4. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  5. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  6. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  7. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  8. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  9. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  10. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  11. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  12. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  13. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  14. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  15. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  16. That must've been a ________________.
  17. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  18. He is an ace ________________.
  19. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  20. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  21. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  22. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  23. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  24. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.

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

Answer key

  1. current — happening now
  2. shower — a meteor shower
  3. bound — certain
  4. vault — a safe
  5. rush — to hurry
  6. vault — an arched ceiling
  7. pass — to succeed
  8. current — of water
  9. current — electric
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. shower — rain
  12. vault — in gymnastics
  13. pass — a permit
  14. rush — hurry
  15. drill — a practice
  16. rush — a thrill
  17. drill — the tool
  18. pitcher — in baseball
  19. pass — to spend time
  20. shower — to wash
  21. bound — obliged
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. drill — army training
  24. bound — tied together

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