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 120 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: board · charge · rock · object · chest · clip · mark · can

  1. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  2. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  3. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  4. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  5. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  8. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  9. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  10. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  11. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  12. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  13. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  14. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  15. The tickets are free of ________________.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  18. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  19. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  20. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  21. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  22. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  23. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  24. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. can — to be able to
  2. board — a flat piece
  3. board — to get on
  4. rock — to move gently
  5. mark — a grade
  6. can — a tin
  7. rock — a stone
  8. clip — for paper
  9. rock — music
  10. chest — a box
  11. object — an aim
  12. charge — in control
  13. object — a thing
  14. object — to protest
  15. charge — a price
  16. can — a tin
  17. clip — a video
  18. board — a committee
  19. mark — to pay attention
  20. charge — electricity
  21. mark — a trace
  22. chest — of your body
  23. clip — to cut
  24. chest — of your body

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