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 120 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: fine · lean · rock · squash · fan · bore · board · mouse

  1. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  2. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  3. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  4. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  5. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  6. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  7. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  8. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  9. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  10. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  11. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  12. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  13. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  14. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  15. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  16. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  17. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  18. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  19. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  20. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  21. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  22. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  23. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  24. He is as ________________ as a wolf.

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

Answer key

  1. squash — the sport
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. mouse — for a computer
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. fine — high quality
  7. rock — to move gently
  8. rock — a stone
  9. bore — to tire
  10. board — to get on
  11. lean — to bend
  12. fan — to cool the air
  13. squash — the vegetable
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. bore — to drill
  16. rock — music
  17. squash — to crush
  18. lean — to rest against
  19. bore — gave birth
  20. fine — all right
  21. board — a committee
  22. board — a flat piece
  23. fine — a penalty
  24. lean — thin

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