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: firm · bulb · spell · board · mouse · staff · shower · mark

  1. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  2. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  3. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  4. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  5. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  8. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  9. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  10. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  11. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  12. How do you ________________ your surname?
  13. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  14. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  15. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  16. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  17. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  18. The light ________________ burned out.
  19. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  20. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  21. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  22. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  23. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  24. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.

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

Answer key

  1. shower — to wash
  2. mark — a grade
  3. staff — a stick
  4. spell — magic
  5. board — a flat piece
  6. bulb — for light
  7. shower — a meteor shower
  8. staff — employees
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. board — to get on
  11. bulb — of a plant
  12. spell — letters
  13. spell — a short time
  14. staff — employees
  15. board — a committee
  16. firm — steady
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. bulb — for light
  19. mark — to pay attention
  20. shower — rain
  21. mouse — for a computer
  22. firm — a company
  23. firm — decided
  24. mark — a trace

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