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. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  2. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  3. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  4. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  5. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  6. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  7. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  8. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  9. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  10. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  11. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  12. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  13. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  14. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  15. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  16. Where did you ________________ them?
  17. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  18. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  19. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  20. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  21. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  22. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. Let us try to swim against the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. spring — a coil
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. fan — to cool the air
  4. wave — a sudden rise
  5. mark — to pay attention
  6. spring — the season
  7. bank — for money
  8. cap — of ice
  9. current — electric
  10. bank — for money
  11. spring — of water
  12. cap — a hat
  13. wave — with your hand
  14. mug — a cup
  15. bank — of a river
  16. mug — to rob
  17. cap — a lid
  18. mark — a grade
  19. wave — of the sea
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. current — happening now
  22. mark — a trace
  23. mug — a face
  24. current — of water

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