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: chip · pop · wind · rash · current · temple · mark · nail

  1. You don't need to ________________ round.
  2. When was this ________________ built?
  3. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  4. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  5. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  6. The ________________ went through the wall.
  7. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  8. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  9. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  10. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  11. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  12. Don't do anything ________________.
  13. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  14. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  15. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  16. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  17. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  18. We're almost out of ________________.
  19. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  20. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  21. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  22. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  23. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  24. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.

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

Answer key

  1. pop — to visit
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. chip — in a computer
  4. rash — a series
  5. rash — on the skin
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. wind — moving air
  8. nail — on a finger
  9. mark — a trace
  10. wind — moving air
  11. chip — to eat
  12. rash — hasty
  13. temple — side of the head
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. mark — to pay attention
  16. chip — for betting
  17. current — electric
  18. pop — soda
  19. mark — a grade
  20. current — of water
  21. wind — to turn a key
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. current — happening now
  24. pop — music

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