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. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  2. I've got to change the light ________________.
  3. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. He is an ace ________________.
  6. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  7. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  12. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  13. The light ________________ burned out.
  14. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  15. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  16. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  17. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  20. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  21. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  22. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  23. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  24. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.

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

Answer key

  1. race — humankind
  2. bulb — for light
  3. deal — a big deal
  4. can — a tin
  5. pitcher — in baseball
  6. bulb — of a plant
  7. race — a contest
  8. current — electric
  9. pit — in a race
  10. current — happening now
  11. wake — before a funeral
  12. race — the arms race
  13. bulb — for light
  14. current — of water
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. wake — a trail
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. can — to be able to
  19. deal — to handle
  20. can — a tin
  21. pit — a hole
  22. wake — to stop sleeping
  23. pit — a fruit stone
  24. deal — an agreement

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