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. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  2. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  3. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  4. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  5. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  6. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  7. Have you found your soul ________________?
  8. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  9. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  10. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  11. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  12. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  13. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  14. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  15. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  16. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  17. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  18. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  19. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  20. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  21. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  22. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  23. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  24. Should I buy a wireless ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. current — of water
  2. track — a song
  3. cue — a hint
  4. current — electric
  5. cue — a signal
  6. track — a path
  7. mate — a partner
  8. ruler — a monarch
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. fork — in a road
  11. foot — a measure
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. mate — a friend
  14. current — happening now
  15. fork — a garden tool
  16. cue — for pool
  17. mate — to breed
  18. foot — the bottom
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. fork — to eat with
  22. track — to keep track
  23. foot — part of the body
  24. mouse — for a computer

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