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: date · bore · current · can · charge · roll · wind · ball

  1. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  2. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  6. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  7. Have you settled on a ________________?
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  10. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  11. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  12. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  13. The tickets are free of ________________.
  14. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  15. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  16. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  17. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  18. We're on a ________________ here.
  19. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  20. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  21. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  22. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  23. The King held a masked ________________.
  24. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. date — the fruit
  2. bore — gave birth
  3. can — to be able to
  4. can — a tin
  5. wind — moving air
  6. bore — to tire
  7. date — on the calendar
  8. can — a tin
  9. charge — in control
  10. ball — a great time
  11. ball — a round shape
  12. current — of water
  13. charge — a price
  14. current — happening now
  15. wind — to turn a key
  16. roll — a list
  17. roll — a cake
  18. roll — on a roll
  19. wind — moving air
  20. charge — electricity
  21. date — on the calendar
  22. bore — to drill
  23. ball — a dance
  24. current — electric

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