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: sharp · file · mug · bore · current · key · leaves · pitch

  1. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  2. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  3. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  4. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  5. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  6. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  7. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  8. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  9. It's one o'clock ________________.
  10. Where did you ________________ them?
  11. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  12. This piece is in a major ________________.
  13. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  14. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  15. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  16. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  17. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  18. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  19. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  20. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  21. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  22. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  23. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  24. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?

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

Answer key

  1. current — of water
  2. current — electric
  3. pitch — a sales talk
  4. file — a document
  5. sharp — with an edge
  6. key — for a lock
  7. file — a tool
  8. pitch — completely
  9. sharp — exactly
  10. mug — to rob
  11. leaves — to go away
  12. key — in music
  13. bore — gave birth
  14. file — a line of people
  15. leaves — of a tree
  16. mug — a cup
  17. mug — a face
  18. leaves — lets stay
  19. bore — to drill
  20. key — the most important part
  21. sharp — clever
  22. pitch — a sports field
  23. current — happening now
  24. bore — to tire

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