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 116 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: cap · bank · board · staff · bulb · game · rush · mark

  1. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  2. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  3. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  4. The light ________________ burned out.
  5. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  6. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  7. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  8. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  9. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  10. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  11. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  12. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  13. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  14. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  15. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  16. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  17. That must've been a ________________.
  18. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  19. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  20. I've got to change the light ________________.
  21. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  22. That was a fun ________________.
  23. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  24. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.

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

Answer key

  1. board — to get on
  2. mark — a grade
  3. board — a committee
  4. bulb — for light
  5. staff — a stick
  6. rush — to hurry
  7. board — a flat piece
  8. cap — a hat
  9. mark — a trace
  10. game — a kind of play
  11. rush — hurry
  12. mark — to pay attention
  13. staff — employees
  14. cap — of ice
  15. staff — employees
  16. bulb — of a plant
  17. rush — a thrill
  18. bank — for money
  19. game — wild animals
  20. bulb — for light
  21. bank — of a river
  22. game — a match
  23. cap — a lid
  24. bank — for money

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