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 116 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: charge · fan · tube · season · bore · racket · fall · cabinet

  1. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. Did you ________________ the meat?
  3. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  4. I'll be taking the ________________.
  5. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  6. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  7. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  8. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  9. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  10. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  11. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  12. What do you think of the new ________________?
  13. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  14. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  15. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  16. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  17. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  18. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  19. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  20. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  21. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  22. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  23. The tickets are free of ________________.
  24. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. season — to add flavour
  3. racket — for tennis
  4. tube — the underground
  5. racket — a loud noise
  6. racket — for tennis
  7. bore — to drill
  8. season — in sport
  9. bore — gave birth
  10. bore — to tire
  11. fan — to cool the air
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. tube — a container
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. charge — electricity
  16. fall — to drop
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. tube — in a tire
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. cabinet — a cupboard
  21. season — of the year
  22. fall — the season
  23. charge — a price
  24. fall — to drop

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