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: nail · mark · kid · rush · band · current · suit · bank

  1. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  2. The ________________ went through the wall.
  3. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  4. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  5. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  6. When will it ________________ you to start?
  7. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  8. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  9. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  10. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  11. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  12. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  13. That must've been a ________________.
  14. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  15. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  16. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  17. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  18. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  19. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  20. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  21. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  22. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  23. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  24. You shouldn't ________________ things.

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

Answer key

  1. band — a rubber band
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. current — happening now
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. mark — a grade
  6. suit — to fit
  7. band — a music group
  8. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  9. current — electric
  10. mark — a trace
  11. kid — child
  12. rush — hurry
  13. rush — a thrill
  14. band — a ring
  15. mark — to pay attention
  16. nail — on a finger
  17. suit — clothes
  18. kid — to tease
  19. bank — for money
  20. current — of water
  21. suit — in cards
  22. bank — of a river
  23. bank — for money
  24. rush — to 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