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: rock · bulb · bark · chip · lean · board · spell · current

  1. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  2. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  3. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  4. The light ________________ burned out.
  5. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  6. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  7. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  8. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  9. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  10. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  11. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  12. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  13. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  14. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  15. How do you ________________ your surname?
  16. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  17. I've got to change the light ________________.
  18. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  19. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  20. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  21. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  22. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  23. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  24. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — a short time
  2. bulb — of a plant
  3. chip — in a computer
  4. bulb — for light
  5. bark — to shout
  6. lean — to bend
  7. chip — to eat
  8. spell — magic
  9. rock — a stone
  10. current — of water
  11. bark — of a tree
  12. chip — for betting
  13. bark — a dog's sound
  14. board — a committee
  15. spell — letters
  16. current — electric
  17. bulb — for light
  18. lean — to rest against
  19. current — happening now
  20. rock — to move gently
  21. board — a flat piece
  22. lean — thin
  23. rock — music
  24. board — to get on

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