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: craft · current · game · temple · rush · march · safe · bore

  1. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  2. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  3. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  4. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  5. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  8. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  9. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  10. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  11. That must've been a ________________.
  12. That was a fun ________________.
  13. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  14. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  15. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  16. When was this ________________ built?
  17. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  21. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  22. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  23. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  24. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.

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

Answer key

  1. current — electric
  2. temple — side of the head
  3. bore — to tire
  4. craft — a handicraft
  5. bore — to drill
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. craft — a skill
  8. craft — boats
  9. game — a kind of play
  10. rush — hurry
  11. rush — a thrill
  12. game — a match
  13. game — wild animals
  14. current — happening now
  15. march — music
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. march — the month
  21. current — of water
  22. march — the month
  23. rush — to hurry
  24. bore — gave birth

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