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 · fine · file · bound · deal · current · bulb · nail

  1. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  2. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  3. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  4. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  5. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  6. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  7. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  8. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  9. That was ________________ to happen.
  10. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  11. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  12. The light ________________ burned out.
  13. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  14. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  15. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  16. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  17. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  18. I've got to change the light ________________.
  19. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  20. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  21. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  22. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  23. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  24. The ________________ went through the wall.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — obliged
  2. fine — high quality
  3. fine — all right
  4. current — electric
  5. deal — a big deal
  6. deal — an agreement
  7. current — happening now
  8. rock — music
  9. bound — certain
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. file — a document
  12. bulb — for light
  13. bulb — of a plant
  14. nail — on a finger
  15. file — a tool
  16. bound — tied together
  17. rock — to move gently
  18. bulb — for light
  19. rock — a stone
  20. file — a line of people
  21. current — of water
  22. fine — a penalty
  23. deal — to handle
  24. nail — for a hammer

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