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. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  3. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  6. The light ________________ burned out.
  7. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  8. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  11. I've got to change the light ________________.
  12. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  13. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  14. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  15. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  16. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  17. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  18. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  19. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  20. The tickets are free of ________________.
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  23. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  24. Where can I ________________ my mobile?

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. bank — of a river
  3. firm — steady
  4. can — a tin
  5. bulb — of a plant
  6. bulb — for light
  7. hand — help
  8. chest — of your body
  9. can — to be able to
  10. bank — for money
  11. bulb — for light
  12. chest — of your body
  13. firm — decided
  14. bank — for money
  15. chest — a box
  16. foot — the bottom
  17. firm — a company
  18. foot — part of the body
  19. hand — in cards
  20. charge — a price
  21. can — a tin
  22. foot — a measure
  23. hand — part of the body
  24. charge — electricity

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