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: last · row · pass · lean · pitcher · current · roll · mate

  1. Have you found your soul ________________?
  2. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  3. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  4. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  5. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  6. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  7. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  8. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  9. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  10. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  11. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  12. We're on a ________________ here.
  13. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  14. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  15. False peace will not ________________.
  16. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  17. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  18. He is an ace ________________.
  19. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  20. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  21. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  22. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  23. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  24. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.

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

Answer key

  1. mate — a partner
  2. last — finally
  3. pass — to succeed
  4. current — happening now
  5. current — of water
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. current — electric
  8. lean — to rest against
  9. last — final
  10. row — to paddle
  11. mate — a friend
  12. roll — on a roll
  13. mate — to breed
  14. lean — to bend
  15. last — to go on
  16. roll — a list
  17. lean — thin
  18. pitcher — in baseball
  19. row — a line
  20. row — a quarrel
  21. roll — a cake
  22. pass — a permit
  23. pass — to spend time
  24. pitcher — a jug

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