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: drill · rush · bound · bay · pitch · spell · saw · current

  1. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  2. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  3. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  4. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  5. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  6. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  7. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  8. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  9. How do you ________________ your surname?
  10. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  11. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  12. She's very handy with a ________________.
  13. That was ________________ to happen.
  14. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  15. That must've been a ________________.
  16. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  17. My mare is ________________ in color.
  18. He works in a ________________ mill.
  19. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  20. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  21. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  22. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  23. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  24. We had a fire ________________ at school today.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — army training
  2. pitch — a sports field
  3. bay — a part of the sea
  4. saw — past of 'see'
  5. spell — a short time
  6. spell — magic
  7. current — happening now
  8. pitch — a sales talk
  9. spell — letters
  10. drill — the tool
  11. bound — tied together
  12. saw — the tool
  13. bound — certain
  14. current — electric
  15. rush — a thrill
  16. rush — hurry
  17. bay — a horse colour
  18. saw — the tool
  19. current — of water
  20. bay — to keep at bay
  21. bound — obliged
  22. pitch — completely
  23. rush — to hurry
  24. drill — a practice

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