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. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  2. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  3. Don't do anything ________________.
  4. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  5. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  6. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  7. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  8. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  9. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  10. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  11. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  12. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  13. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  14. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  15. He is an ace ________________.
  16. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  17. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  18. My father caught me by the ________________.
  19. Where did you ________________ them?
  20. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  21. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  22. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  23. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  24. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. pit — a hole
  2. current — of water
  3. rash — hasty
  4. trunk — of a tree
  5. mug — a face
  6. rash — on the skin
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. wake — a trail
  9. arm — a part of something
  10. wake — to stop sleeping
  11. trunk — of a car
  12. wake — before a funeral
  13. trunk — of an elephant
  14. pit — in a race
  15. pitcher — in baseball
  16. arm — part of the body
  17. mug — a cup
  18. arm — part of the body
  19. mug — to rob
  20. rash — a series
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. current — electric
  23. current — happening now
  24. pit — a fruit stone

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