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: charge · bore · bass · calf · ball · clip · pitcher · club

  1. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  3. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  4. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  5. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  6. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  7. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  8. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  9. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  10. The King held a masked ________________.
  11. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  12. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  13. He is an ace ________________.
  14. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  15. The tickets are free of ________________.
  16. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  17. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  18. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  19. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  20. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  21. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  22. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  23. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  24. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. calf — of the leg
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. clip — for paper
  5. bass — the fish
  6. bass — low music
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. charge — electricity
  9. clip — a video
  10. ball — a dance
  11. bore — to drill
  12. bass — the instrument
  13. pitcher — in baseball
  14. club — for golf
  15. charge — a price
  16. bore — to tire
  17. clip — to cut
  18. club — a group
  19. ball — a great time
  20. ball — a round shape
  21. bore — gave birth
  22. club — for dancing
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. calf — a young animal

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