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: stand · pass · race · ball · bore · current · sharp · capital

  1. The King held a masked ________________.
  2. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  3. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  4. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  5. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  6. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  7. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  8. I can't ________________ this cold.
  9. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  10. It's one o'clock ________________.
  11. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  12. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  13. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  14. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  15. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  16. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  17. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  18. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  19. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  20. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  21. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  22. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  23. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  24. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a dance
  2. capital — money
  3. ball — a round shape
  4. stand — on your feet
  5. pass — to spend time
  6. race — a contest
  7. current — electric
  8. stand — to bear
  9. bore — to drill
  10. sharp — exactly
  11. stand — for spectators
  12. bore — gave birth
  13. ball — a great time
  14. sharp — clever
  15. capital — a big letter
  16. bore — to tire
  17. capital — a city
  18. current — of water
  19. race — humankind
  20. sharp — with an edge
  21. current — happening now
  22. pass — to succeed
  23. pass — a permit
  24. race — the arms race

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