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: current · cabinet · cell · pound · fall · season · safe · spring

  1. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  2. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  3. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  4. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  5. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  6. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  7. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  8. He was locked up in a ________________.
  9. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  10. Did you ________________ the meat?
  11. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  12. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  16. What do you think of the new ________________?
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  19. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  20. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  21. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  22. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  23. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  24. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. current — of water
  2. current — happening now
  3. spring — of water
  4. pound — a weight
  5. season — of the year
  6. fall — the season
  7. spring — a coil
  8. cell — in a prison
  9. pound — for dogs
  10. season — to add flavour
  11. fall — to drop
  12. cabinet — a cupboard
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. current — electric
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. fall — to drop
  20. cell — in biology
  21. cell — a phone
  22. spring — the season
  23. pound — to hit hard
  24. season — in sport

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