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. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  2. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  3. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  4. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  5. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  6. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  7. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  8. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  9. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  10. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  11. I've got to change the light ________________.
  12. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  13. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  14. The light ________________ burned out.
  15. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  16. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  17. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  18. What do you think of the new ________________?
  19. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  20. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  21. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  22. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  23. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  24. He's taking a ________________ right now.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. current — happening now
  3. bore — to drill
  4. file — a document
  5. track — a song
  6. file — a line of people
  7. bore — gave birth
  8. cabinet — a cupboard
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. track — to keep track
  11. bulb — for light
  12. shower — a meteor shower
  13. bulb — of a plant
  14. bulb — for light
  15. mouse — for a computer
  16. shower — rain
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. bore — to tire
  20. current — electric
  21. file — a tool
  22. track — a path
  23. current — of water
  24. shower — to wash

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