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: vault · current · foot · nail · spell · trunk · can · field

  1. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  2. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  3. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  4. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  5. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  6. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  7. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. How do you ________________ your surname?
  10. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  11. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  12. The ________________ went through the wall.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  15. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  16. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  17. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  18. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  19. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  20. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  21. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  22. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  23. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  24. The elephant has a huge ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of a tree
  2. trunk — of a car
  3. foot — the bottom
  4. field — for sport
  5. vault — a safe
  6. nail — on a finger
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. can — to be able to
  9. spell — letters
  10. field — farmland
  11. foot — a measure
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. can — a tin
  14. current — electric
  15. vault — an arched ceiling
  16. spell — a short time
  17. vault — in gymnastics
  18. current — of water
  19. current — happening now
  20. can — a tin
  21. spell — magic
  22. field — a subject
  23. foot — part of the body
  24. trunk — of an elephant

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