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 116 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: patient · stand · pop · charge · fine · firm · track · current

  1. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  2. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  3. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  4. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  5. The tickets are free of ________________.
  6. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  7. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  8. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  9. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  10. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  11. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  12. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  13. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  14. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  15. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  16. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  17. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  18. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  19. You don't need to ________________ round.
  20. I can't ________________ this cold.
  21. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  22. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  23. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  24. We're almost out of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — high quality
  2. charge — in control
  3. firm — a company
  4. current — happening now
  5. charge — a price
  6. fine — a penalty
  7. track — to keep track
  8. patient — calm and waiting
  9. stand — on your feet
  10. current — of water
  11. current — electric
  12. track — a song
  13. firm — steady
  14. pop — music
  15. stand — for spectators
  16. charge — electricity
  17. track — a path
  18. patient — a sick person
  19. pop — to visit
  20. stand — to bear
  21. patient — a sick person
  22. fine — all right
  23. firm — decided
  24. pop — soda

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