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. We're almost out of ________________.
  2. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  3. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  4. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  5. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  6. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  7. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  8. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  9. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  10. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  11. The ________________ took off on time.
  12. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  13. You don't need to ________________ round.
  14. He is an ace ________________.
  15. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  16. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  17. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  18. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  19. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  20. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  21. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  22. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  23. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  24. Can you turn the ________________ on?

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

Answer key

  1. pop — soda
  2. current — electric
  3. foot — part of the body
  4. net — for catching
  5. current — of water
  6. current — happening now
  7. net — in sport
  8. club — a group
  9. plane — a tool
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. plane — an aircraft
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. pop — to visit
  14. pitcher — in baseball
  15. pop — music
  16. club — for dancing
  17. foot — a measure
  18. club — for golf
  19. net — after costs
  20. foot — the bottom
  21. plane — in geometry
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. fan — to cool the air

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