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: pitcher · row · current · mate · rock · leaves · board · suit

  1. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  2. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  3. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  4. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  5. He is an ace ________________.
  6. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  7. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  8. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  9. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  10. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  11. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  12. Have you found your soul ________________?
  13. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  14. When will it ________________ you to start?
  15. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  16. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  17. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  18. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  19. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  20. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  21. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  22. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  23. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  24. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.

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

Answer key

  1. board — a flat piece
  2. mate — a friend
  3. rock — music
  4. board — to get on
  5. pitcher — in baseball
  6. board — a committee
  7. current — electric
  8. mate — to breed
  9. pitcher — a jug
  10. current — of water
  11. row — to paddle
  12. mate — a partner
  13. row — a quarrel
  14. suit — to fit
  15. current — happening now
  16. suit — clothes
  17. leaves — of a tree
  18. rock — to move gently
  19. leaves — to go away
  20. rock — a stone
  21. row — a line
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. suit — in cards
  24. leaves — lets stay

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