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: chip · mouse · jam · lean · rash · bore · court · bank

  1. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  2. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  3. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  4. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  5. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  6. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  7. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  8. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  9. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  10. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  11. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  12. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  13. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  14. Don't do anything ________________.
  15. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  16. The ball is in your ________________.
  17. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  18. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  19. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  20. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  21. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  22. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  23. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  24. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. mouse — for a computer
  3. bore — to tire
  4. chip — for betting
  5. chip — to eat
  6. chip — in a computer
  7. lean — to rest against
  8. court — of law
  9. jam — in traffic
  10. bore — gave birth
  11. bank — of a river
  12. jam — to spread on bread
  13. lean — to bend
  14. rash — hasty
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. court — for sport
  17. rash — a series
  18. bore — to drill
  19. bank — for money
  20. lean — thin
  21. rash — on the skin
  22. court — of a king
  23. jam — a tight spot
  24. mouse — the animal

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