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: cabinet · swing · lash · sharp · fan · club · rock · current

  1. What do you think of the new ________________?
  2. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  3. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  4. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  5. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  6. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  7. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  8. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  9. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  10. David sat on the ________________.
  11. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  12. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  13. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  14. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  15. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  16. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  17. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  18. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. It's one o'clock ________________.
  21. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  22. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  23. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  24. He's quite ________________, isn't he?

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. club — a group
  3. current — of water
  4. swing — in golf
  5. club — for golf
  6. sharp — with an edge
  7. lash — a whip stroke
  8. rock — a stone
  9. fan — to cool the air
  10. swing — to play on
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. club — for dancing
  13. cabinet — a cupboard
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. current — electric
  16. lash — an eyelash
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. swing — music
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. sharp — exactly
  21. rock — music
  22. current — happening now
  23. lash — to lash out
  24. sharp — clever

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