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: rock · net · charge · fine · current · patient · suit · sharp

  1. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  3. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  4. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  5. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  6. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  7. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  8. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  9. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  10. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  11. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  12. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  13. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  14. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  15. The tickets are free of ________________.
  16. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  17. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  18. It's one o'clock ________________.
  19. When will it ________________ you to start?
  20. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  21. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  22. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  23. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  24. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. suit — in cards
  3. fine — high quality
  4. net — for catching
  5. charge — in control
  6. suit — clothes
  7. current — of water
  8. current — happening now
  9. net — in sport
  10. rock — music
  11. rock — to move gently
  12. fine — all right
  13. patient — calm and waiting
  14. charge — electricity
  15. charge — a price
  16. patient — a sick person
  17. net — after costs
  18. sharp — exactly
  19. suit — to fit
  20. fine — a penalty
  21. patient — a sick person
  22. sharp — clever
  23. sharp — with an edge
  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