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. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. The tickets are free of ________________.
  3. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  4. The ________________ went through the wall.
  5. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  6. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  7. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  8. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  9. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  10. What do you think of the new ________________?
  11. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  12. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  13. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  14. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  15. How do you ________________ your surname?
  16. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  17. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  18. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  19. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  20. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  21. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  22. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  23. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  24. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. charge — a price
  3. march — the month
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. hide — to keep secret
  6. march — the month
  7. jam — in traffic
  8. jam — to spread on bread
  9. jam — a tight spot
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. board — a flat piece
  12. march — music
  13. board — a committee
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. spell — letters
  16. hide — to keep secret
  17. cabinet — a cupboard
  18. nail — on a finger
  19. hide — animal skin
  20. charge — electricity
  21. spell — magic
  22. board — to get on
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. spell — a short time

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