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: ground · net · swing · coach · rush · lean · current · jam

  1. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  2. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  3. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  4. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  5. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  6. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  7. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  8. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  9. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  10. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  11. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  12. There's no middle ________________.
  13. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  14. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  15. Have you met the new head ________________?
  16. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  17. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  18. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  19. David sat on the ________________.
  20. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  21. That must've been a ________________.
  22. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  23. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  24. You shouldn't ________________ things.

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

Answer key

  1. current — happening now
  2. jam — a tight spot
  3. swing — music
  4. net — after costs
  5. rush — hurry
  6. coach — pulled by horses
  7. net — in sport
  8. lean — to bend
  9. lean — thin
  10. jam — in traffic
  11. lean — to rest against
  12. ground — a position
  13. ground — the earth
  14. swing — in golf
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. current — electric
  17. jam — to spread on bread
  18. net — for catching
  19. swing — to play on
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. rush — a thrill
  22. current — of water
  23. ground — crushed
  24. rush — to hurry

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