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: squash · fine · cue · hand · charge · current · season · arm

  1. The tickets are free of ________________.
  2. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  3. My father caught me by the ________________.
  4. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  5. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  6. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  7. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  8. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  9. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  10. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  11. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  12. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  13. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  14. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  15. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  16. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  17. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  18. Did you ________________ the meat?
  19. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  20. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  21. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  22. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  23. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  24. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — a price
  2. season — of the year
  3. arm — part of the body
  4. charge — electricity
  5. squash — the sport
  6. season — in sport
  7. current — of water
  8. fine — a penalty
  9. charge — in control
  10. squash — to crush
  11. cue — a signal
  12. current — happening now
  13. arm — part of the body
  14. squash — the vegetable
  15. arm — a part of something
  16. fine — all right
  17. hand — in cards
  18. season — to add flavour
  19. hand — help
  20. fine — high quality
  21. cue — for pool
  22. hand — part of the body
  23. cue — a hint
  24. current — electric

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