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 King held a masked ________________.
  2. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  3. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  6. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  7. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  8. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  11. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  12. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  13. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  14. Where did you ________________ them?
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  17. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  18. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  19. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  20. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  21. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  22. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  23. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  24. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a dance
  2. current — of water
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. can — a tin
  5. current — happening now
  6. ball — a round shape
  7. foot — the bottom
  8. bat — in an idiom
  9. can — to be able to
  10. foot — a measure
  11. current — electric
  12. bat — for baseball
  13. root — the cause
  14. mug — to rob
  15. can — a tin
  16. bat — the animal
  17. fan — to cool the air
  18. mug — a face
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. foot — part of the body
  21. ball — a great time
  22. root — of a plant
  23. mug — a cup
  24. root — of a word

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