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: mug · current · ground · wind · bear · ball · foot · roll

  1. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  2. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  3. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  4. We're on a ________________ here.
  5. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  6. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  7. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  8. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  9. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  10. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  11. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  12. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  13. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  14. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  15. There's no middle ________________.
  16. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  17. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  18. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  19. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  20. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  21. The King held a masked ________________.
  22. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  23. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  24. Where did you ________________ them?

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

Answer key

  1. current — electric
  2. bear — the animal
  3. roll — a list
  4. roll — on a roll
  5. bear — to put up with
  6. foot — the bottom
  7. current — of water
  8. foot — a measure
  9. bear — the animal
  10. mug — a cup
  11. wind — to turn a key
  12. ball — a round shape
  13. roll — a cake
  14. ball — a great time
  15. ground — a position
  16. wind — moving air
  17. mug — a face
  18. foot — part of the body
  19. wind — moving air
  20. current — happening now
  21. ball — a dance
  22. ground — crushed
  23. ground — the earth
  24. mug — to rob

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