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. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  2. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  3. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  4. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  5. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  6. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  7. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  12. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  13. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  14. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  15. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  16. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  17. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  18. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  19. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  20. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  21. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  22. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  23. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  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. fan — a supporter
  2. trunk — of a car
  3. leaves — lets stay
  4. trunk — of an elephant
  5. trunk — of a tree
  6. kick — a thrill
  7. squash — the sport
  8. current — electric
  9. kick — in football
  10. current — happening now
  11. squash — to crush
  12. staff — employees
  13. deal — an agreement
  14. staff — employees
  15. deal — a big deal
  16. leaves — to go away
  17. staff — a stick
  18. leaves — of a tree
  19. fan — to cool the air
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. squash — the vegetable
  22. current — of water
  23. kick — with a leg
  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