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: charge · club · bay · lean · bound · cabinet · staff · land

  1. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  2. That was ________________ to happen.
  3. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  4. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  5. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  6. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  7. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  8. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  9. The tickets are free of ________________.
  10. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  11. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  12. When are we going to ________________?
  13. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  14. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  15. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  16. What do you think of the new ________________?
  17. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  18. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  19. My mare is ________________ in color.
  20. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  21. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  22. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  23. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  24. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.

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

Answer key

  1. lean — to rest against
  2. bound — certain
  3. bay — to keep at bay
  4. cabinet — a cupboard
  5. charge — in control
  6. bound — obliged
  7. land — a country
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. charge — a price
  10. club — for golf
  11. land — ground
  12. land — to come down
  13. bound — tied together
  14. charge — electricity
  15. bay — a part of the sea
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. lean — to bend
  18. lean — thin
  19. bay — a horse colour
  20. club — for dancing
  21. staff — employees
  22. staff — a stick
  23. club — a group
  24. staff — employees

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