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. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  2. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  3. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  4. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  5. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  6. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  7. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  10. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  11. The tickets are free of ________________.
  12. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  13. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  14. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  15. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  16. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  17. The King held a masked ________________.
  18. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  19. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  20. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  21. This piece is in a major ________________.
  22. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  23. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  24. Hard work is the ________________ to success.

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

Answer key

  1. vault — in gymnastics
  2. band — a music group
  3. vault — a safe
  4. vault — an arched ceiling
  5. board — a flat piece
  6. mine — for digging
  7. mine — an explosive
  8. current — electric
  9. ball — a great time
  10. ball — a round shape
  11. charge — a price
  12. board — to get on
  13. current — happening now
  14. board — a committee
  15. charge — electricity
  16. band — a ring
  17. ball — a dance
  18. mine — belonging to me
  19. band — a rubber band
  20. charge — in control
  21. key — in music
  22. key — for a lock
  23. current — of water
  24. key — the most important part

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