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: mouse · wound · bound · dip · board · pass · mine · suit

  1. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  2. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  3. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  4. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  5. That was ________________ to happen.
  6. When will it ________________ you to start?
  7. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  8. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  9. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  10. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  11. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  12. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  13. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  14. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  15. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  16. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  17. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  18. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  19. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  20. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  21. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  22. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  23. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  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. board — to get on
  2. board — a flat piece
  3. wound — an injury
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. bound — certain
  6. suit — to fit
  7. board — a committee
  8. dip — to dunk
  9. mine — an explosive
  10. wound — past of 'wind'
  11. pass — to succeed
  12. dip — to sink
  13. bound — tied together
  14. bound — obliged
  15. mine — belonging to me
  16. wound — an injury
  17. pass — a permit
  18. dip — a sauce
  19. suit — in cards
  20. suit — clothes
  21. mouse — for a computer
  22. pass — to spend time
  23. mine — for digging
  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