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: rush · current · craft · ball · bulb · lean · key · pop

  1. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  2. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  3. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  4. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  5. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  6. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  7. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  8. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  9. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  10. The King held a masked ________________.
  11. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  12. We're almost out of ________________.
  13. That must've been a ________________.
  14. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  15. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  16. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  17. The light ________________ burned out.
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  19. This piece is in a major ________________.
  20. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  21. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  22. I've got to change the light ________________.
  23. You don't need to ________________ round.
  24. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?

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

Answer key

  1. lean — to rest against
  2. lean — to bend
  3. ball — a great time
  4. current — happening now
  5. rush — hurry
  6. current — electric
  7. key — the most important part
  8. craft — a skill
  9. lean — thin
  10. ball — a dance
  11. craft — a handicraft
  12. pop — soda
  13. rush — a thrill
  14. current — of water
  15. ball — a round shape
  16. craft — boats
  17. bulb — for light
  18. rush — to hurry
  19. key — in music
  20. pop — music
  21. bulb — of a plant
  22. bulb — for light
  23. pop — to visit
  24. key — for a lock

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