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: jam · drill · charge · fork · sharp · stick · spell · lean

  1. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  2. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  3. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  4. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  5. It's one o'clock ________________.
  6. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  7. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  8. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  9. The tickets are free of ________________.
  10. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  11. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  12. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  13. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  14. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  15. How do you ________________ your surname?
  16. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  17. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  18. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  19. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  20. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  21. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  22. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  23. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  24. He is as ________________ as a wolf.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — army training
  2. stick — to attach or keep to
  3. drill — a practice
  4. jam — a tight spot
  5. sharp — exactly
  6. lean — to bend
  7. charge — electricity
  8. stick — a piece of wood
  9. charge — a price
  10. fork — a garden tool
  11. drill — the tool
  12. charge — in control
  13. lean — to rest against
  14. fork — to eat with
  15. spell — letters
  16. jam — in traffic
  17. spell — magic
  18. stick — a piece of wood
  19. sharp — clever
  20. jam — to spread on bread
  21. sharp — with an edge
  22. spell — a short time
  23. fork — in a road
  24. lean — thin

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