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: bulb · temple · track · fan · mark · current · pitcher · deal

  1. I've got to change the light ________________.
  2. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  3. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  4. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  5. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  6. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  7. The light ________________ burned out.
  8. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  9. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  10. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  13. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  14. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  15. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  16. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  17. He is an ace ________________.
  18. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  19. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  20. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  21. When was this ________________ built?
  22. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  23. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  24. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. deal — an agreement
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. bulb — of a plant
  6. deal — to handle
  7. bulb — for light
  8. fan — to cool the air
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. deal — a big deal
  11. current — of water
  12. temple — side of the head
  13. current — electric
  14. mark — to pay attention
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. track — a song
  17. pitcher — in baseball
  18. track — a path
  19. track — to keep track
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. current — happening now
  23. mark — a grade
  24. mark — a trace

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