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: bound · net · charge · spring · object · present · march · can

  1. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  2. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  3. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  4. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  5. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  6. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  7. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  8. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  9. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  10. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  11. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  12. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  13. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  14. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  15. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  18. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  19. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  20. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  21. The tickets are free of ________________.
  22. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  23. That was ________________ to happen.
  24. ________________ you help me carry this box?

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

Answer key

  1. march — the month
  2. net — after costs
  3. net — in sport
  4. spring — of water
  5. object — a thing
  6. present — a gift
  7. march — the month
  8. present — there
  9. net — for catching
  10. charge — electricity
  11. spring — the season
  12. bound — obliged
  13. spring — a coil
  14. object — to protest
  15. present — the time now
  16. can — a tin
  17. can — a tin
  18. charge — in control
  19. object — an aim
  20. march — music
  21. charge — a price
  22. bound — tied together
  23. bound — certain
  24. can — to be able to

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