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: ball · charge · season · trunk · mark · cap · current · deal

  1. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  2. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  3. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  4. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  5. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  6. Did you ________________ the meat?
  7. The tickets are free of ________________.
  8. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  9. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  10. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  11. The King held a masked ________________.
  12. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  13. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  14. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  15. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  16. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  17. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  18. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  19. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  20. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  21. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  22. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  23. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  24. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.

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

Answer key

  1. current — happening now
  2. mark — a grade
  3. season — in sport
  4. deal — a big deal
  5. mark — to pay attention
  6. season — to add flavour
  7. charge — a price
  8. deal — to handle
  9. trunk — of a tree
  10. deal — an agreement
  11. ball — a dance
  12. ball — a round shape
  13. cap — a lid
  14. trunk — of an elephant
  15. season — of the year
  16. ball — a great time
  17. charge — electricity
  18. trunk — of a car
  19. current — electric
  20. charge — in control
  21. current — of water
  22. cap — of ice
  23. mark — a trace
  24. cap — a hat

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