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: staff · wound · rush · game · bowl · nail · current · lean

  1. The ________________ went through the wall.
  2. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  3. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  4. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  5. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  6. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  7. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  8. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  9. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  10. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  11. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  12. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  13. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  14. That was a fun ________________.
  15. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  16. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  17. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  18. That must've been a ________________.
  19. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  20. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  21. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  22. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  23. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  24. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. lean — to rest against
  3. game — a kind of play
  4. nail — on a finger
  5. rush — hurry
  6. wound — an injury
  7. lean — to bend
  8. bowl — to roll
  9. wound — an injury
  10. wound — past of 'wind'
  11. current — happening now
  12. bowl — a dish
  13. staff — a stick
  14. game — a match
  15. staff — employees
  16. rush — to hurry
  17. game — wild animals
  18. rush — a thrill
  19. current — of water
  20. lean — thin
  21. current — electric
  22. bowl — a football final
  23. nail — for a hammer
  24. staff — employees

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