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: rash · trunk · club · kick · bound · charge · bank · squash

  1. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  3. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  4. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  5. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  6. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  7. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  8. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  9. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  10. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  11. Don't do anything ________________.
  12. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  13. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  14. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  15. The tickets are free of ________________.
  16. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  17. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  18. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  19. That was ________________ to happen.
  20. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  21. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  22. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  23. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  24. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. squash — the sport
  3. club — for golf
  4. charge — electricity
  5. trunk — of an elephant
  6. trunk — of a car
  7. bank — for money
  8. club — a group
  9. kick — with a leg
  10. rash — a series
  11. rash — hasty
  12. squash — to crush
  13. rash — on the skin
  14. club — for dancing
  15. charge — a price
  16. bound — tied together
  17. bank — of a river
  18. bound — obliged
  19. bound — certain
  20. kick — a thrill
  21. squash — the vegetable
  22. kick — in football
  23. trunk — of a tree
  24. bank — for money

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