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 · current · sharp · board · pitch · track · fork · deal

  1. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  2. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  3. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  4. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  5. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  6. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  7. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  8. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  9. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  10. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  11. It's one o'clock ________________.
  12. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  13. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  14. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  15. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  16. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  17. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  18. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  19. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  20. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  21. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  22. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  23. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  24. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.

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

Answer key

  1. pitch — completely
  2. track — a song
  3. sharp — with an edge
  4. lash — an eyelash
  5. pitch — a sales talk
  6. pitch — a sports field
  7. current — electric
  8. sharp — clever
  9. current — happening now
  10. fork — in a road
  11. sharp — exactly
  12. fork — to eat with
  13. deal — a big deal
  14. lash — a whip stroke
  15. lash — to lash out
  16. track — a path
  17. track — to keep track
  18. deal — to handle
  19. fork — a garden tool
  20. board — a flat piece
  21. board — to get on
  22. deal — an agreement
  23. current — of water
  24. board — a committee

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