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 · toast · coach · drill · season · mark · scale

  1. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  2. The tickets are free of ________________.
  3. Did you ________________ the meat?
  4. Have you met the new head ________________?
  5. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  6. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  7. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  8. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  9. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  10. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  11. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  12. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  13. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  14. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  15. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  16. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  17. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  18. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  19. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  20. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  21. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  22. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  23. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  24. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?

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

Answer key

  1. current — happening now
  2. charge — a price
  3. season — to add flavour
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. current — of water
  6. scale — size or range
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. charge — electricity
  9. mark — a trace
  10. mark — a grade
  11. charge — in control
  12. drill — a practice
  13. toast — the most admired
  14. scale — in music
  15. toast — a drink to someone
  16. mark — to pay attention
  17. toast — bread
  18. drill — the tool
  19. drill — army training
  20. season — of the year
  21. current — electric
  22. scale — for weighing
  23. season — in sport
  24. coach — pulled by horses

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