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 · arm · ball · bore · suit · net · rash · saw

  1. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  2. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  3. She's very handy with a ________________.
  4. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  5. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  6. He works in a ________________ mill.
  7. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  8. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  9. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  10. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  11. My father caught me by the ________________.
  12. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  13. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  14. The tickets are free of ________________.
  15. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  16. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  17. Don't do anything ________________.
  18. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  19. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  20. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  21. When will it ________________ you to start?
  22. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  23. The King held a masked ________________.
  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. net — for catching
  2. arm — part of the body
  3. saw — the tool
  4. ball — a great time
  5. arm — a part of something
  6. saw — the tool
  7. suit — in cards
  8. saw — past of 'see'
  9. rash — on the skin
  10. rash — a series
  11. arm — part of the body
  12. net — in sport
  13. bore — to drill
  14. charge — a price
  15. charge — in control
  16. bore — gave birth
  17. rash — hasty
  18. charge — electricity
  19. suit — clothes
  20. net — after costs
  21. suit — to fit
  22. ball — a round shape
  23. ball — a dance
  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