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: net · prune · face · bay · key · charge · track · current

  1. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  2. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  3. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  4. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  5. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  6. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  7. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  8. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  9. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  10. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  11. This piece is in a major ________________.
  12. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  13. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  14. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  15. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  16. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  17. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  18. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  19. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  20. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  21. The tickets are free of ________________.
  22. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  23. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  24. My mare is ________________ in color.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — a part of the sea
  2. bay — to keep at bay
  3. prune — the fruit
  4. face — to point toward
  5. net — in sport
  6. charge — electricity
  7. current — happening now
  8. track — a song
  9. charge — in control
  10. net — after costs
  11. key — in music
  12. key — for a lock
  13. prune — to trim
  14. prune — to trim
  15. key — the most important part
  16. current — of water
  17. net — for catching
  18. track — a path
  19. track — to keep track
  20. face — part of the head
  21. charge — a price
  22. current — electric
  23. face — to confront
  24. bay — a horse colour

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