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: can · fan · bore · current · mine · bat · leaves · saw

  1. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  4. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  5. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  6. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  7. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  8. She's very handy with a ________________.
  9. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  10. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  11. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  12. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  13. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  14. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  17. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  18. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  19. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  20. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  21. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. He works in a ________________ mill.
  24. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — past of 'see'
  2. can — a tin
  3. bore — to tire
  4. leaves — of a tree
  5. current — happening now
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. bat — in an idiom
  8. saw — the tool
  9. leaves — lets stay
  10. mine — for digging
  11. fan — to cool the air
  12. current — electric
  13. bat — the animal
  14. current — of water
  15. can — to be able to
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. mine — an explosive
  18. bore — to drill
  19. leaves — to go away
  20. mine — belonging to me
  21. bat — for baseball
  22. can — a tin
  23. saw — the tool
  24. bore — gave birth

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