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 from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: rush · bark · pass · charge · fork · can

  1. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  2. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  3. That must've been a ________________.
  4. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  5. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  6. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  7. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  11. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  12. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  15. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  16. The tickets are free of ________________.
  17. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — electricity
  2. fork — to eat with
  3. rush — a thrill
  4. pass — a permit
  5. fork — a garden tool
  6. bark — to shout
  7. rush — to hurry
  8. can — to be able to
  9. can — a tin
  10. charge — in control
  11. bark — a dog's sound
  12. fork — in a road
  13. can — a tin
  14. bark — of a tree
  15. pass — to succeed
  16. charge — a price
  17. pass — to spend time
  18. rush — hurry

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