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. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  3. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  4. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  5. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  6. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  7. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  8. The tickets are free of ________________.
  9. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  10. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  11. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  12. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  13. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  14. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  15. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  16. The ________________ went through the wall.
  17. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  18. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  19. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  20. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  21. The King held a masked ________________.
  22. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  23. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  24. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. bore — to tire
  3. ball — a great time
  4. spring — of water
  5. hide — to keep secret
  6. hide — animal skin
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. charge — a price
  9. calf — of the leg
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. ball — a round shape
  12. bore — gave birth
  13. spring — the season
  14. spring — a coil
  15. hide — to keep secret
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. drill — the tool
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. bore — to drill
  20. charge — electricity
  21. ball — a dance
  22. nail — on a finger
  23. drill — a practice
  24. drill — army training

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