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 116 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: mouse · current · shower · key · leaves · bore · chair · deal

  1. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  2. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  3. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  4. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  5. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  6. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  7. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  8. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  9. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  10. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  11. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  12. This piece is in a major ________________.
  13. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  14. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  15. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  16. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  17. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  18. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  19. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  20. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  21. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  22. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  23. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  24. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.

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

Answer key

  1. shower — to wash
  2. mouse — for a computer
  3. leaves — lets stay
  4. chair — a professorship
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. key — the most important part
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. deal — an agreement
  9. shower — a meteor shower
  10. leaves — of a tree
  11. bore — to drill
  12. key — in music
  13. chair — to sit on
  14. bore — gave birth
  15. current — electric
  16. current — of water
  17. deal — to handle
  18. leaves — to go away
  19. key — for a lock
  20. shower — rain
  21. deal — a big deal
  22. bore — to tire
  23. current — happening now
  24. chair — a leader

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