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: pitcher · toast · craft · fan · object · charge · mouse · hand

  1. The tickets are free of ________________.
  2. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  3. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  4. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  5. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  6. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  7. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  8. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  9. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  10. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  11. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  12. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  13. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  14. He is an ace ________________.
  15. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  16. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  17. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  18. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  19. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  20. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  21. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  22. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  23. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  24. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — a price
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. craft — boats
  4. mouse — for a computer
  5. hand — in cards
  6. toast — a drink to someone
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. hand — part of the body
  9. craft — a handicraft
  10. craft — a skill
  11. charge — in control
  12. object — an aim
  13. charge — electricity
  14. pitcher — in baseball
  15. toast — the most admired
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. toast — bread
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. hand — help
  20. object — a thing
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. fan — to cool the air
  23. object — to protest
  24. mouse — the animal

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