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 speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  2. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  7. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  8. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  9. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  10. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  11. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  12. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  13. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  14. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  15. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  16. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  17. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  18. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  19. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  20. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  21. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  22. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.

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

Answer key

  1. wake — a trail
  2. rock — a stone
  3. can — a tin
  4. rock — music
  5. can — a tin
  6. rock — to move gently
  7. shower — rain
  8. scale — size or range
  9. mark — to pay attention
  10. scale — for weighing
  11. wake — before a funeral
  12. current — electric
  13. mine — an explosive
  14. scale — in music
  15. shower — a meteor shower
  16. wake — to stop sleeping
  17. mark — a trace
  18. current — of water
  19. mark — a grade
  20. mine — belonging to me
  21. shower — to wash
  22. mine — for digging
  23. can — to be able to
  24. current — happening now

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