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. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  2. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  3. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  6. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  7. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  8. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  9. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  10. I'll be taking the ________________.
  11. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  12. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  13. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  14. That was ________________ to happen.
  15. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  16. He is an ace ________________.
  17. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  18. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  19. When are we going to ________________?
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  22. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  23. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — tied together
  2. band — a music group
  3. band — a ring
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. tube — a container
  6. bound — obliged
  7. current — electric
  8. current — happening now
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. tube — the underground
  11. mouse — for a computer
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. land — ground
  14. bound — certain
  15. current — of water
  16. pitcher — in baseball
  17. land — a country
  18. tube — in a tire
  19. land — to come down
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. band — a rubber band
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. safe — out of danger

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