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: bulb · deal · can · charge · shower · craft · mate · vault

  1. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  2. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  3. Have you found your soul ________________?
  4. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  7. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  8. The light ________________ burned out.
  9. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  10. The tickets are free of ________________.
  11. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  12. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  13. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  14. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  17. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  21. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  22. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  23. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  24. We took cover from the thunder ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. craft — a handicraft
  2. craft — a skill
  3. mate — a partner
  4. vault — an arched ceiling
  5. bulb — for light
  6. mate — to breed
  7. craft — boats
  8. bulb — for light
  9. vault — a safe
  10. charge — a price
  11. bulb — of a plant
  12. vault — in gymnastics
  13. deal — to handle
  14. deal — a big deal
  15. can — a tin
  16. charge — electricity
  17. shower — a meteor shower
  18. can — a tin
  19. can — to be able to
  20. shower — to wash
  21. deal — an agreement
  22. mate — a friend
  23. charge — in control
  24. shower — rain

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