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 120 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: craft · mark · wound · charge · court · arm · face · racket

  1. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  3. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  4. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  5. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  6. The tickets are free of ________________.
  7. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  8. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  9. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  10. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  11. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  12. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  13. My father caught me by the ________________.
  14. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  15. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  16. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  17. The ball is in your ________________.
  18. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  19. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  20. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  21. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  22. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  23. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  24. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. racket — a loud noise
  3. arm — part of the body
  4. racket — for tennis
  5. face — to confront
  6. charge — a price
  7. face — to point toward
  8. wound — past of 'wind'
  9. craft — a handicraft
  10. mark — a trace
  11. racket — for tennis
  12. wound — an injury
  13. arm — part of the body
  14. craft — a skill
  15. mark — a grade
  16. craft — boats
  17. court — for sport
  18. face — part of the head
  19. court — of a king
  20. court — of law
  21. charge — electricity
  22. wound — an injury
  23. arm — a part of something
  24. mark — to pay attention

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