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: ball · bore · face · fine · charge · current · drill · branch

  1. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  2. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  3. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  4. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  5. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  6. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  7. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  8. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  9. The tickets are free of ________________.
  10. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  11. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  12. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  13. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  14. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  15. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  16. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  17. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  18. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  19. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  20. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  21. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  22. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  23. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  24. The King held a masked ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — all right
  2. face — part of the head
  3. ball — a round shape
  4. bore — to drill
  5. drill — army training
  6. fine — a penalty
  7. drill — a practice
  8. charge — electricity
  9. charge — a price
  10. branch — of a tree
  11. drill — the tool
  12. current — electric
  13. bore — gave birth
  14. current — of water
  15. branch — of a bank
  16. charge — in control
  17. face — to confront
  18. current — happening now
  19. face — to point toward
  20. branch — a division
  21. bore — to tire
  22. fine — high quality
  23. ball — a great time
  24. ball — a dance

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