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: vault · drill · lean · cabinet · rush · charge · cold · jam

  1. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  2. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  3. What do you think of the new ________________?
  4. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  5. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  6. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  7. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  8. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  9. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  10. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  11. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  12. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  13. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  14. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  15. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  16. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  17. The tickets are free of ________________.
  18. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  19. The water is too ________________.
  20. I had a bad ________________ and was in bed for a week.
  21. Its rival in the ________________ War, the Soviet Union, exploited this at the time.
  22. That must've been a ________________.
  23. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  24. Where can I ________________ my mobile?

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

Answer key

  1. drill — the tool
  2. jam — in traffic
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. lean — to rest against
  5. vault — an arched ceiling
  6. cabinet — a cupboard
  7. vault — in gymnastics
  8. charge — in control
  9. lean — to bend
  10. drill — a practice
  11. jam — a tight spot
  12. rush — to hurry
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. jam — to spread on bread
  15. drill — army training
  16. lean — thin
  17. charge — a price
  18. vault — a safe
  19. cold — not warm
  20. cold — an illness
  21. cold — the Cold War
  22. rush — a thrill
  23. rush — hurry
  24. charge — electricity

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