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: bank · game · bulb · bore · drill · rest · fine · staff

  1. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  2. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  3. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  4. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  5. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  6. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  7. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  8. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  9. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  10. That was a fun ________________.
  11. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  12. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  13. The light ________________ burned out.
  14. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  15. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  16. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  17. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  18. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  19. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  20. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  21. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  22. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  23. I've got to change the light ________________.
  24. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.

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

Answer key

  1. game — a kind of play
  2. fine — a penalty
  3. bank — of a river
  4. fine — all right
  5. bore — to drill
  6. drill — a practice
  7. drill — the tool
  8. staff — employees
  9. game — wild animals
  10. game — a match
  11. drill — army training
  12. bore — to tire
  13. bulb — for light
  14. staff — employees
  15. staff — a stick
  16. rest — a break
  17. rest — what's left
  18. rest — what's left
  19. bore — gave birth
  20. bank — for money
  21. bank — for money
  22. bulb — of a plant
  23. bulb — for light
  24. fine — high quality

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