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: tube · mine · temple · bore · board · pop · firm · current

  1. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  2. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  3. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  4. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  5. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  6. I'll be taking the ________________.
  7. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  8. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  9. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  10. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  11. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  12. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  13. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  14. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  15. You don't need to ________________ round.
  16. We're almost out of ________________.
  17. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  18. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  19. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  20. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  21. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  22. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  23. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  24. When was this ________________ built?

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

Answer key

  1. firm — decided
  2. board — a committee
  3. board — to get on
  4. tube — in a tire
  5. current — happening now
  6. tube — the underground
  7. temple — side of the head
  8. firm — a company
  9. current — of water
  10. bore — gave birth
  11. firm — steady
  12. mine — belonging to me
  13. pop — music
  14. current — electric
  15. pop — to visit
  16. pop — soda
  17. bore — to drill
  18. mine — an explosive
  19. tube — a container
  20. board — a flat piece
  21. bore — to tire
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. mine — for digging
  24. temple — a place of worship

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