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. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  2. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  3. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  4. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  5. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  8. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  9. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  10. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. The ball is in your ________________.
  13. The tickets are free of ________________.
  14. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  15. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  16. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  17. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  22. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  23. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  24. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — to spread on bread
  2. current — happening now
  3. kick — with a leg
  4. firm — a company
  5. wax — to grow
  6. can — to be able to
  7. firm — decided
  8. jam — a tight spot
  9. charge — in control
  10. current — electric
  11. current — of water
  12. court — for sport
  13. charge — a price
  14. court — of law
  15. wax — for sculpting
  16. firm — steady
  17. charge — electricity
  18. can — a tin
  19. jam — in traffic
  20. can — a tin
  21. wax — in the ear
  22. kick — a thrill
  23. court — of a king
  24. kick — in football

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