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 120 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: deal · fine · cabinet · bass · current · shower · wake · lean

  1. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  2. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  3. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  4. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  5. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  6. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  7. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  10. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  11. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  12. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  13. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  14. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  15. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  16. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  17. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  18. What do you think of the new ________________?
  19. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  20. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  21. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  22. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  23. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  24. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — a cupboard
  2. fine — a penalty
  3. bass — the fish
  4. shower — to wash
  5. current — of water
  6. deal — to handle
  7. lean — to bend
  8. current — electric
  9. shower — a meteor shower
  10. lean — thin
  11. shower — rain
  12. lean — to rest against
  13. wake — before a funeral
  14. deal — an agreement
  15. fine — all right
  16. wake — a trail
  17. bass — low music
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. deal — a big deal
  20. bass — the instrument
  21. wake — to stop sleeping
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. fine — high quality
  24. current — happening now

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