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 120 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. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  2. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  3. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  4. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  5. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  6. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  7. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  8. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  9. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  10. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  11. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  12. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  13. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  14. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  15. Where did you ________________ them?
  16. When will it ________________ you to start?
  17. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  18. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  19. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  20. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  21. The ________________ went through the wall.
  22. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  23. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  24. I have a corn on my right ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — a measure
  2. nail — on a finger
  3. leaves — to go away
  4. leaves — of a tree
  5. mine — an explosive
  6. current — happening now
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. mug — a cup
  9. mug — a face
  10. mine — for digging
  11. foot — the bottom
  12. suit — in cards
  13. fan — to cool the air
  14. mine — belonging to me
  15. mug — to rob
  16. suit — to fit
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. current — of water
  19. suit — clothes
  20. leaves — lets stay
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. current — electric
  24. foot — part of the body

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