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: charge · file · scale · staff · tube · wave · saw · track

  1. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  2. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  3. I'll be taking the ________________.
  4. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  5. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  6. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  7. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  8. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  9. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  10. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  11. She's very handy with a ________________.
  12. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  13. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  14. The tickets are free of ________________.
  15. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  16. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  17. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  18. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  19. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  20. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  21. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  22. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  23. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  24. He works in a ________________ mill.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — electricity
  2. file — a document
  3. tube — the underground
  4. charge — in control
  5. file — a tool
  6. tube — a container
  7. saw — past of 'see'
  8. scale — size or range
  9. file — a line of people
  10. track — to keep track
  11. saw — the tool
  12. scale — for weighing
  13. wave — of the sea
  14. charge — a price
  15. tube — in a tire
  16. scale — in music
  17. staff — employees
  18. staff — a stick
  19. wave — with your hand
  20. staff — employees
  21. wave — a sudden rise
  22. track — a path
  23. track — a song
  24. saw — the tool

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