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: saw · pass · bat · current · key · wound · charge · leaves

  1. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  2. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  3. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  4. He works in a ________________ mill.
  5. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  6. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  7. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  8. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  9. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  10. This piece is in a major ________________.
  11. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  12. The tickets are free of ________________.
  13. She's very handy with a ________________.
  14. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  15. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  16. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  17. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  18. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  19. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  20. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  21. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  22. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  23. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  24. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.

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

Answer key

  1. bat — in an idiom
  2. pass — a permit
  3. leaves — of a tree
  4. saw — the tool
  5. key — the most important part
  6. wound — an injury
  7. pass — to succeed
  8. bat — the animal
  9. saw — past of 'see'
  10. key — in music
  11. key — for a lock
  12. charge — a price
  13. saw — the tool
  14. wound — past of 'wind'
  15. pass — to spend time
  16. wound — an injury
  17. leaves — lets stay
  18. current — happening now
  19. current — electric
  20. charge — in control
  21. current — of water
  22. leaves — to go away
  23. charge — electricity
  24. bat — for baseball

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