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: bass · bay · roll · fork · bank · current · wake · mark

  1. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  2. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  3. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  6. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  7. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  8. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  9. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  10. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  11. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  12. We're on a ________________ here.
  13. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  14. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  15. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  16. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  17. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  18. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  19. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  20. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  21. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  22. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  23. My mare is ________________ in color.
  24. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a grade
  2. fork — to eat with
  3. bank — for money
  4. current — of water
  5. roll — a cake
  6. fork — a garden tool
  7. mark — to pay attention
  8. mark — a trace
  9. current — happening now
  10. wake — a trail
  11. bank — for money
  12. roll — on a roll
  13. fork — in a road
  14. bass — the instrument
  15. bass — low music
  16. current — electric
  17. roll — a list
  18. bass — the fish
  19. bank — of a river
  20. wake — before a funeral
  21. bay — a part of the sea
  22. wake — to stop sleeping
  23. bay — a horse colour
  24. bay — to keep at bay

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