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. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  2. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  3. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  4. Have you found your soul ________________?
  5. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  6. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  7. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  8. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  9. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  10. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  13. How do you ________________ your surname?
  14. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  15. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  16. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  17. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  18. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  19. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  20. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  21. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  22. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  23. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  24. The tickets are free of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. current — electric
  2. current — happening now
  3. charge — in control
  4. mate — a partner
  5. face — to point toward
  6. lie — to recline
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. spell — a short time
  9. branch — a division
  10. present — the time now
  11. current — of water
  12. spell — magic
  13. spell — letters
  14. branch — of a tree
  15. mate — to breed
  16. charge — electricity
  17. present — there
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. present — a gift
  20. face — part of the head
  21. face — to confront
  22. branch — of a bank
  23. mate — a friend
  24. charge — a price

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