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 · lash · board · pass · pitcher · bark · bore · fan

  1. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  2. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  3. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  4. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  5. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  6. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  7. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  8. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  9. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  10. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  11. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  12. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  13. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  14. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  15. The tickets are free of ________________.
  16. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  17. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  18. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  19. He is an ace ________________.
  20. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  21. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  22. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  23. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  24. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. board — a committee
  2. board — a flat piece
  3. bore — gave birth
  4. charge — electricity
  5. lash — an eyelash
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. bark — to shout
  9. board — to get on
  10. bore — to tire
  11. pass — a permit
  12. bark — a dog's sound
  13. fan — to cool the air
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. charge — a price
  16. bark — of a tree
  17. pass — to succeed
  18. charge — in control
  19. pitcher — in baseball
  20. bore — to drill
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. lash — to lash out
  23. pass — to spend time
  24. lash — a whip stroke

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