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: key · current · dip · press · shower · jam · sharp · chair

  1. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  2. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  3. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  4. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  5. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  6. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  7. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  8. This piece is in a major ________________.
  9. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  10. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  11. It's one o'clock ________________.
  12. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  13. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  14. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  15. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  16. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  17. Did you ________________ the button?
  18. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  19. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  20. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  21. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  22. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  23. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  24. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — in traffic
  2. dip — to sink
  3. jam — a tight spot
  4. shower — a meteor shower
  5. chair — to sit on
  6. current — of water
  7. shower — rain
  8. key — in music
  9. shower — to wash
  10. dip — to dunk
  11. sharp — exactly
  12. press — a publisher
  13. jam — to spread on bread
  14. sharp — clever
  15. key — the most important part
  16. key — for a lock
  17. press — to push
  18. current — electric
  19. chair — a leader
  20. press — newspapers
  21. dip — a sauce
  22. current — happening now
  23. sharp — with an edge
  24. chair — a professorship

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