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: leaves · current · rush · fan · roll · nail · rock · mug

  1. Where did you ________________ them?
  2. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  3. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  4. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  5. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  6. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  7. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  8. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  9. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  10. The ________________ went through the wall.
  11. We're on a ________________ here.
  12. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  13. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  14. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  15. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  16. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  17. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  18. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  19. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  20. That must've been a ________________.
  21. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  22. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  23. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  24. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — to rob
  2. roll — a cake
  3. rock — to move gently
  4. fan — to cool the air
  5. leaves — of a tree
  6. leaves — to go away
  7. mug — a face
  8. rush — to hurry
  9. current — happening now
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. roll — on a roll
  12. rock — music
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. mug — a cup
  15. current — of water
  16. rush — hurry
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. roll — a list
  20. rush — a thrill
  21. rock — a stone
  22. nail — on a finger
  23. current — electric
  24. leaves — lets stay

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