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. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  2. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  3. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  4. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  5. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  6. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  9. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. What do you think of the new ________________?
  12. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  15. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  16. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  17. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  18. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  19. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  20. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  21. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  22. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  23. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  24. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — army training
  2. kid — child
  3. cue — for pool
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. current — happening now
  7. can — to be able to
  8. current — of water
  9. current — electric
  10. can — a tin
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. fan — to cool the air
  13. can — a tin
  14. stem — of a plant
  15. cue — a hint
  16. drill — the tool
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  19. drill — a practice
  20. stem — to come from
  21. kid — to tease
  22. stem — a stem cell
  23. cue — a signal
  24. cabinet — a cupboard

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