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: bank · swing · season · fan · current · sharp · mug · roll

  1. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  2. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  3. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  4. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  5. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  6. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  7. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  8. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  9. Where did you ________________ them?
  10. David sat on the ________________.
  11. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  12. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  13. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  14. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  15. We're on a ________________ here.
  16. It's one o'clock ________________.
  17. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  18. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  19. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  20. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  21. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  22. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  23. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  24. Did you ________________ the meat?

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

Answer key

  1. season — in sport
  2. sharp — clever
  3. mug — a face
  4. current — electric
  5. current — happening now
  6. season — of the year
  7. mug — a cup
  8. current — of water
  9. mug — to rob
  10. swing — to play on
  11. roll — a list
  12. bank — for money
  13. fan — to cool the air
  14. bank — of a river
  15. roll — on a roll
  16. sharp — exactly
  17. sharp — with an edge
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. swing — in golf
  20. swing — music
  21. roll — a cake
  22. bank — for money
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. season — to add flavour

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