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. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  2. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  3. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  4. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  5. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  6. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  7. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  8. Don't do anything ________________.
  9. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  10. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  11. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  12. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  13. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  14. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  15. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  16. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  17. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  18. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  19. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  20. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  21. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  22. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  23. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  24. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to tire
  2. jam — to spread on bread
  3. mark — a trace
  4. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  5. board — a committee
  6. jam — in traffic
  7. mark — to pay attention
  8. rash — hasty
  9. rash — a series
  10. leaves — of a tree
  11. chip — in a computer
  12. rash — on the skin
  13. bore — to drill
  14. bore — gave birth
  15. kid — to tease
  16. leaves — to go away
  17. leaves — lets stay
  18. chip — for betting
  19. mark — a grade
  20. chip — to eat
  21. jam — a tight spot
  22. board — to get on
  23. board — a flat piece
  24. kid — child

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