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: patient · leaves · rush · tube · vault · mouse · net · current

  1. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  2. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  3. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  4. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  5. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  6. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  7. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  8. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  9. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  10. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  11. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  12. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  13. That must've been a ________________.
  14. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  15. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  16. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  17. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  18. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  19. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  20. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  21. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  22. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  23. I'll be taking the ________________.
  24. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. patient — a sick person
  2. current — of water
  3. patient — a sick person
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. net — for catching
  7. leaves — of a tree
  8. vault — an arched ceiling
  9. leaves — lets stay
  10. rush — hurry
  11. current — electric
  12. rush — to hurry
  13. rush — a thrill
  14. tube — a container
  15. leaves — to go away
  16. mouse — for a computer
  17. patient — calm and waiting
  18. net — in sport
  19. net — after costs
  20. current — happening now
  21. tube — in a tire
  22. vault — in gymnastics
  23. tube — the underground
  24. vault — a safe

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