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: ball · mark · safe · row · current · plane · craft · charge

  1. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  2. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  3. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  4. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  5. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  6. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  7. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  8. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  9. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  10. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  11. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  12. The tickets are free of ________________.
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. The King held a masked ________________.
  15. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  16. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  17. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  18. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  21. The ________________ took off on time.
  22. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  23. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  24. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — a strongbox
  2. ball — a great time
  3. current — electric
  4. row — to paddle
  5. mark — to pay attention
  6. current — of water
  7. row — a quarrel
  8. row — a line
  9. plane — in geometry
  10. ball — a round shape
  11. current — happening now
  12. charge — a price
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. ball — a dance
  15. mark — a grade
  16. mark — a trace
  17. charge — electricity
  18. craft — a skill
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. charge — in control
  21. plane — an aircraft
  22. craft — a handicraft
  23. plane — a tool
  24. craft — boats

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