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: rock · trunk · firm · kid · current · ball · can · bark

  1. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  2. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  3. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  4. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  7. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  10. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  11. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  12. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  13. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  14. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  15. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  16. The King held a masked ________________.
  17. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  18. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  19. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  23. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  24. I've got the luggage in my ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of a tree
  2. bark — of a tree
  3. trunk — of an elephant
  4. firm — steady
  5. can — a tin
  6. rock — a stone
  7. current — happening now
  8. current — electric
  9. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  10. firm — a company
  11. kid — to tease
  12. rock — to move gently
  13. rock — music
  14. ball — a round shape
  15. bark — a dog's sound
  16. ball — a dance
  17. kid — child
  18. ball — a great time
  19. firm — decided
  20. can — to be able to
  21. can — a tin
  22. current — of water
  23. bark — to shout
  24. trunk — of a car

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