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 116 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. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  2. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  3. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  4. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  5. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  6. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  7. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  8. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  9. Have you met the new head ________________?
  10. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  13. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  14. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  15. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  16. Don't do anything ________________.
  17. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  19. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  20. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  21. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  22. That must've been a ________________.
  23. Where did you ________________ them?
  24. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — pulled by horses
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. rash — a series
  4. mug — a face
  5. current — electric
  6. mug — a cup
  7. face — to point toward
  8. current — happening now
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. face — part of the head
  11. current — of water
  12. wave — a sudden rise
  13. rush — hurry
  14. lean — thin
  15. wave — with your hand
  16. rash — hasty
  17. wave — of the sea
  18. rush — to hurry
  19. lean — to rest against
  20. rash — on the skin
  21. lean — to bend
  22. rush — a thrill
  23. mug — to rob
  24. face — to confront

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