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. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  2. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  3. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  4. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  5. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  6. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  7. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  8. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  9. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  10. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  11. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  12. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  13. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  14. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  15. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  16. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  17. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  18. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  19. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  20. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  21. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  22. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  23. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  24. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.

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

Answer key

  1. squash — the vegetable
  2. chip — for betting
  3. jam — a tight spot
  4. leaves — lets stay
  5. shower — rain
  6. leaves — to go away
  7. current — of water
  8. chip — in a computer
  9. jam — in traffic
  10. jam — to spread on bread
  11. mouse — for a computer
  12. current — happening now
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. shower — to wash
  15. chip — to eat
  16. deal — an agreement
  17. squash — to crush
  18. leaves — of a tree
  19. shower — a meteor shower
  20. squash — the sport
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. deal — a big deal
  23. current — electric
  24. deal — to handle

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