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: present · wound · pitcher · current · temple · stick · toast · prune

  1. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  2. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  3. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  4. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  5. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  6. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  7. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  8. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  9. When was this ________________ built?
  10. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  11. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  12. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  13. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  14. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  15. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  16. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  17. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  18. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  19. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  20. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  21. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  22. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  23. He is an ace ________________.
  24. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. current — electric
  2. wound — an injury
  3. present — a gift
  4. present — the time now
  5. prune — the fruit
  6. wound — past of 'wind'
  7. toast — the most admired
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. toast — a drink to someone
  12. current — of water
  13. prune — to trim
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. toast — bread
  16. current — happening now
  17. stick — to attach or keep to
  18. temple — side of the head
  19. present — there
  20. wound — an injury
  21. stick — a piece of wood
  22. prune — to trim
  23. pitcher — in baseball
  24. stick — a piece of wood

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