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. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  2. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  3. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  4. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  5. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  6. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  7. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  8. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  9. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  10. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  11. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  12. That was a fun ________________.
  13. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  14. This piece is in a major ________________.
  15. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  16. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  17. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  18. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  19. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  20. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  21. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  22. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  23. What do you think of the new ________________?
  24. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — an eyelash
  2. band — a ring
  3. board — a committee
  4. bank — of a river
  5. lash — to lash out
  6. cabinet — a cupboard
  7. key — for a lock
  8. lash — a whip stroke
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. band — a music group
  11. key — the most important part
  12. game — a match
  13. bank — for money
  14. key — in music
  15. bank — for money
  16. current — happening now
  17. band — a rubber band
  18. game — wild animals
  19. current — electric
  20. game — a kind of play
  21. current — of water
  22. board — a flat piece
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. board — to get on

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