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: march · net · face · wave · ruler · leaves · capital · current

  1. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  2. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  3. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  4. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  5. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  6. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  7. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  8. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  9. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  10. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  13. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  14. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  15. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  16. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  17. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  18. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  19. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  20. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  21. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  22. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  23. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  24. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.

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

Answer key

  1. net — after costs
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. current — electric
  4. capital — a city
  5. net — in sport
  6. face — to point toward
  7. wave — of the sea
  8. current — happening now
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. march — the month
  11. current — of water
  12. march — music
  13. leaves — of a tree
  14. face — part of the head
  15. wave — a sudden rise
  16. capital — money
  17. march — the month
  18. leaves — to go away
  19. capital — a big letter
  20. net — for catching
  21. leaves — lets stay
  22. ruler — a monarch
  23. face — to confront
  24. wave — with your hand

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