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: prune · rash · ball · staff · roll · current · deal · bound

  1. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  2. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  3. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  4. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  5. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  6. We're on a ________________ here.
  7. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  8. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  9. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  10. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  11. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  12. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  13. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  14. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  15. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  16. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  17. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  18. The King held a masked ________________.
  19. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  20. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  21. Don't do anything ________________.
  22. That was ________________ to happen.
  23. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  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. bound — obliged
  2. roll — a list
  3. prune — the fruit
  4. bound — tied together
  5. staff — employees
  6. roll — on a roll
  7. prune — to trim
  8. prune — to trim
  9. rash — on the skin
  10. ball — a great time
  11. rash — a series
  12. current — electric
  13. current — happening now
  14. ball — a round shape
  15. deal — to handle
  16. roll — a cake
  17. staff — employees
  18. ball — a dance
  19. staff — a stick
  20. deal — an agreement
  21. rash — hasty
  22. bound — certain
  23. deal — a big deal
  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