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. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  2. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  3. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  4. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  5. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  6. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  7. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  8. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  9. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  10. She's very handy with a ________________.
  11. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  12. Don't do anything ________________.
  13. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  14. What do you think of the new ________________?
  15. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  16. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  17. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  18. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  19. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  20. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  21. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  22. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  23. He works in a ________________ mill.
  24. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — on the skin
  2. current — electric
  3. stem — of a plant
  4. present — a gift
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. chip — for betting
  7. current — happening now
  8. rash — a series
  9. stem — to come from
  10. saw — the tool
  11. present — there
  12. rash — hasty
  13. chip — in a computer
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. current — of water
  18. saw — past of 'see'
  19. calf — of the leg
  20. chip — to eat
  21. stem — a stem cell
  22. cabinet — a cupboard
  23. saw — the tool
  24. present — the time now

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