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: mug · bound · jam · land · ball · lie · game · current

  1. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  2. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  3. That was a fun ________________.
  4. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  5. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  6. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  7. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  8. The King held a masked ________________.
  9. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  10. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  11. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  12. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  13. That was ________________ to happen.
  14. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  15. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  16. When are we going to ________________?
  17. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  18. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  19. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  20. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  21. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  22. Where did you ________________ them?
  23. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  24. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. current — electric
  2. mug — a cup
  3. game — a match
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. ball — a great time
  6. bound — obliged
  7. land — a country
  8. ball — a dance
  9. lie — to recline
  10. jam — a tight spot
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. ball — a round shape
  13. bound — certain
  14. current — of water
  15. current — happening now
  16. land — to come down
  17. jam — to spread on bread
  18. game — a kind of play
  19. mug — a face
  20. jam — in traffic
  21. bound — tied together
  22. mug — to rob
  23. game — wild animals
  24. land — ground

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