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: track · current · toast · safe · kid · chair · pitcher · ball

  1. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  2. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  3. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  7. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  8. He is an ace ________________.
  9. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  10. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  11. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  12. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  13. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  14. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  15. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  16. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  17. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  18. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  19. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  20. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  21. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. The King held a masked ________________.
  24. He keeps ________________ of his days.

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

Answer key

  1. current — electric
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. toast — the most admired
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. kid — child
  7. toast — bread
  8. pitcher — in baseball
  9. chair — to sit on
  10. kid — to tease
  11. track — a song
  12. current — happening now
  13. ball — a round shape
  14. current — of water
  15. chair — a professorship
  16. chair — a leader
  17. ball — a great time
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. track — a path
  20. toast — a drink to someone
  21. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. ball — a dance
  24. track — to keep track

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