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: game · lie · coach · chip · arm · current · rock · lean

  1. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  2. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  3. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  4. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  5. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  6. Have you met the new head ________________?
  7. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  8. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  9. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  10. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  11. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  12. That was a fun ________________.
  13. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  14. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  15. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  16. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  17. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  18. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  19. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  20. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  21. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  22. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  23. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  24. My father caught me by the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. arm — a part of something
  2. current — happening now
  3. lean — to bend
  4. chip — to eat
  5. chip — in a computer
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. current — of water
  8. rock — to move gently
  9. game — wild animals
  10. current — electric
  11. rock — music
  12. game — a match
  13. lie — to recline
  14. lean — thin
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. game — a kind of play
  19. lean — to rest against
  20. chip — for betting
  21. coach — pulled by horses
  22. rock — a stone
  23. lie — an untruth
  24. arm — part of the body

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