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: current · charge · ball · roll · season · rock · stick · fan

  1. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  2. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  3. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  4. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  5. We're on a ________________ here.
  6. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  7. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  8. Did you ________________ the meat?
  9. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  10. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  11. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  12. The tickets are free of ________________.
  13. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  14. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  15. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  16. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  17. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  18. The King held a masked ________________.
  19. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  20. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  21. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  22. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  23. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  24. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fan — a supporter
  2. charge — in control
  3. roll — a list
  4. charge — electricity
  5. roll — on a roll
  6. current — happening now
  7. current — of water
  8. season — to add flavour
  9. fan — to cool the air
  10. roll — a cake
  11. season — of the year
  12. charge — a price
  13. rock — to move gently
  14. stick — to attach or keep to
  15. ball — a round shape
  16. season — in sport
  17. ball — a great time
  18. ball — a dance
  19. rock — music
  20. stick — a piece of wood
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. current — electric
  23. rock — a stone
  24. stick — a piece of wood

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