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: clip · fan · board · rush · spell · deal · craft · bulb

  1. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  2. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  3. I've got to change the light ________________.
  4. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  5. The light ________________ burned out.
  6. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  7. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  8. That must've been a ________________.
  9. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  10. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  11. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  14. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  15. How do you ________________ your surname?
  16. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  17. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  20. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  21. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  22. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  23. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  24. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.

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

Answer key

  1. craft — a skill
  2. board — a flat piece
  3. bulb — for light
  4. deal — to handle
  5. bulb — for light
  6. craft — a handicraft
  7. board — to get on
  8. rush — a thrill
  9. deal — an agreement
  10. craft — boats
  11. clip — a video
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. clip — for paper
  14. spell — magic
  15. spell — letters
  16. board — a committee
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. rush — hurry
  19. fan — to cool the air
  20. rush — to hurry
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. clip — to cut
  23. deal — a big deal
  24. spell — a short time

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