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. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  2. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  3. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  4. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  5. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  6. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  7. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  8. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  9. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  10. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  11. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  12. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  13. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  14. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  15. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  16. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  17. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  18. The tickets are free of ________________.
  19. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  20. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  21. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  22. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  23. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  24. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — of a river
  2. bore — gave birth
  3. board — a committee
  4. bank — for money
  5. pit — in a race
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. band — a ring
  8. board — a flat piece
  9. charge — in control
  10. lie — to recline
  11. bore — to tire
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. spring — a coil
  14. spring — the season
  15. band — a music group
  16. pit — a hole
  17. bore — to drill
  18. charge — a price
  19. spring — of water
  20. band — a rubber band
  21. pit — a fruit stone
  22. charge — electricity
  23. board — to get on
  24. bank — for money

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