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. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  2. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  3. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  4. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  5. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  6. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  7. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  8. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  9. The King held a masked ________________.
  10. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  11. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  12. The tickets are free of ________________.
  13. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  14. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  15. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  16. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  17. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  18. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  19. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  20. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  21. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  22. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  23. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  24. ________________ games are popular in Germany.

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

Answer key

  1. rest — a break
  2. degree — temperature
  3. rest — what's left
  4. charge — in control
  5. foot — part of the body
  6. spring — of water
  7. bass — low music
  8. foot — the bottom
  9. ball — a dance
  10. degree — an amount
  11. ball — a round shape
  12. charge — a price
  13. bass — the instrument
  14. foot — a measure
  15. spring — a coil
  16. spring — the season
  17. ball — a great time
  18. board — a committee
  19. rest — what's left
  20. degree — from a university
  21. board — to get on
  22. charge — electricity
  23. bass — the fish
  24. board — a flat piece

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