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. My mare is ________________ in color.
  2. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  3. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  4. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  5. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  6. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  7. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  8. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  9. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  10. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  13. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  14. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  15. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  16. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  17. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  18. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  19. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  20. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  21. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  22. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  23. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  24. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — a horse colour
  2. board — to get on
  3. wave — of the sea
  4. current — happening now
  5. track — a song
  6. current — electric
  7. lean — to bend
  8. rule — government
  9. bay — to keep at bay
  10. track — a path
  11. current — of water
  12. rule — to rule out
  13. deal — a big deal
  14. wave — with your hand
  15. board — a committee
  16. wave — a sudden rise
  17. deal — an agreement
  18. lean — thin
  19. board — a flat piece
  20. track — to keep track
  21. bay — a part of the sea
  22. deal — to handle
  23. rule — a law
  24. lean — to rest against

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