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: jam · rush · face · charge · board · snap · mouse · shower

  1. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  2. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  3. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  4. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  5. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  6. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  7. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  8. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  9. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  10. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  11. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  12. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  13. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  14. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  15. The tickets are free of ________________.
  16. That must've been a ________________.
  17. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  18. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  19. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  20. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  21. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  22. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  23. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  24. Would you like some apricot ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. board — to get on
  2. snap — to click
  3. rush — hurry
  4. jam — in traffic
  5. board — a flat piece
  6. face — part of the head
  7. shower — a meteor shower
  8. board — a committee
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. rush — to hurry
  11. charge — in control
  12. face — to point toward
  13. face — to confront
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. charge — a price
  16. rush — a thrill
  17. shower — rain
  18. mouse — for a computer
  19. charge — electricity
  20. snap — to speak sharply
  21. shower — to wash
  22. snap — to snap out of it
  23. jam — a tight spot
  24. jam — to spread on bread

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