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: snap · jam · chip · kick · mug · calf · current · bound

  1. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  2. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  3. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  4. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  5. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  6. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  7. That was ________________ to happen.
  8. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  9. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  10. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  11. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  12. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  13. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  14. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  15. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  16. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  17. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  18. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  19. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  20. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  21. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  22. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  23. Where did you ________________ them?
  24. Let us try to swim against the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. snap — to click
  2. kick — a thrill
  3. kick — in football
  4. calf — of the leg
  5. chip — to eat
  6. jam — in traffic
  7. bound — certain
  8. mug — a cup
  9. current — happening now
  10. snap — to snap out of it
  11. kick — with a leg
  12. chip — for betting
  13. bound — obliged
  14. jam — to spread on bread
  15. jam — a tight spot
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. snap — to speak sharply
  18. bound — tied together
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. mug — a face
  21. current — electric
  22. chip — in a computer
  23. mug — to rob
  24. current — of water

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