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: bear · toast · swing · hand · current · roll · trunk · safe

  1. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  2. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  3. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  4. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  5. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  6. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  7. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  8. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  9. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  10. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  15. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. David sat on the ________________.
  18. We're on a ________________ here.
  19. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  20. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  21. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  22. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  23. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  24. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.

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

Answer key

  1. swing — in golf
  2. toast — the most admired
  3. current — electric
  4. trunk — of a tree
  5. bear — to put up with
  6. hand — help
  7. current — of water
  8. toast — bread
  9. hand — in cards
  10. bear — the animal
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. swing — music
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. toast — a drink to someone
  15. current — happening now
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. swing — to play on
  18. roll — on a roll
  19. roll — a cake
  20. bear — the animal
  21. trunk — of a car
  22. trunk — of an elephant
  23. hand — part of the body
  24. roll — a list

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