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: spring · chip · pass · file · jam · bulb · charge · temple

  1. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  2. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  3. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  4. The light ________________ burned out.
  5. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  6. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  7. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  8. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  9. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  10. The tickets are free of ________________.
  11. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  12. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  13. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  14. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  15. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  16. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  17. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  18. When was this ________________ built?
  19. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  20. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  21. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  22. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  23. I've got to change the light ________________.
  24. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — in a computer
  2. temple — side of the head
  3. bulb — of a plant
  4. bulb — for light
  5. file — a document
  6. jam — to spread on bread
  7. spring — of water
  8. spring — a coil
  9. charge — electricity
  10. charge — a price
  11. pass — a permit
  12. file — a line of people
  13. file — a tool
  14. charge — in control
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. pass — to succeed
  17. jam — a tight spot
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. chip — to eat
  20. pass — to spend time
  21. spring — the season
  22. jam — in traffic
  23. bulb — for light
  24. chip — for betting

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