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: mug · game · rush · fine · club · current · foot · scale

  1. That was a fun ________________.
  2. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  3. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  4. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  5. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  6. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  7. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  8. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  9. Where did you ________________ them?
  10. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  11. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  12. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  13. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  14. That must've been a ________________.
  15. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  16. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  17. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  18. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  19. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  20. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  21. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  22. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  23. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  24. Let us try to swim against the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. game — a match
  2. fine — all right
  3. fine — high quality
  4. foot — the bottom
  5. rush — to hurry
  6. club — a group
  7. mug — a cup
  8. game — a kind of play
  9. mug — to rob
  10. club — for golf
  11. mug — a face
  12. current — electric
  13. current — happening now
  14. rush — a thrill
  15. foot — a measure
  16. fine — a penalty
  17. scale — size or range
  18. game — wild animals
  19. rush — hurry
  20. scale — in music
  21. foot — part of the body
  22. club — for dancing
  23. scale — for weighing
  24. current — of water

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