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: field · track · coach · leaves · can · mouse · charge · current

  1. The tickets are free of ________________.
  2. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  3. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  4. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  5. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  6. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  7. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  8. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  11. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  15. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  16. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  17. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  18. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  19. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  20. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  21. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  22. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  23. Have you met the new head ________________?
  24. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — a price
  2. field — a subject
  3. mouse — for a computer
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. track — to keep track
  6. track — a song
  7. coach — pulled by horses
  8. field — for sport
  9. can — to be able to
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. leaves — to go away
  12. can — a tin
  13. can — a tin
  14. current — electric
  15. current — of water
  16. charge — in control
  17. leaves — lets stay
  18. field — farmland
  19. track — a path
  20. charge — electricity
  21. leaves — of a tree
  22. current — happening now
  23. coach — a trainer
  24. coach — a trainer

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