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: lash · foot · craft · rush · fan · safe · wind · current

  1. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  2. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  3. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  4. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  5. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  6. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  7. That must've been a ________________.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  12. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  13. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  14. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  15. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  18. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  19. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  20. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  21. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  22. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  23. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  24. Take your time. There's no ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wind — moving air
  2. rush — to hurry
  3. current — electric
  4. current — happening now
  5. lash — an eyelash
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. rush — a thrill
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. wind — to turn a key
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. foot — a measure
  12. craft — a handicraft
  13. craft — a skill
  14. lash — a whip stroke
  15. craft — boats
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. lash — to lash out
  18. wind — moving air
  19. foot — part of the body
  20. fan — to cool the air
  21. foot — the bottom
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. current — of water
  24. 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