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: current · net · rash · date · safe · wax · bore · pass

  1. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  2. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  3. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  4. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  5. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  6. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  7. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  8. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  9. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  10. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  11. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  12. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  13. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  14. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  15. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  18. Have you settled on a ________________?
  19. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  20. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. Don't do anything ________________.
  23. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  24. I seem to be developing a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. current — electric
  2. wax — for sculpting
  3. current — happening now
  4. bore — to drill
  5. net — after costs
  6. wax — to grow
  7. bore — to tire
  8. bore — gave birth
  9. net — for catching
  10. date — the fruit
  11. net — in sport
  12. wax — in the ear
  13. date — on the calendar
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. pass — to spend time
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. pass — a permit
  18. date — on the calendar
  19. rash — a series
  20. current — of water
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. rash — hasty
  23. pass — to succeed
  24. rash — on the skin

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