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: ball · jam · current · club · rush · date · stand · cabinet

  1. What do you think of the new ________________?
  2. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  3. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. I can't ________________ this cold.
  6. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  7. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  8. Have you settled on a ________________?
  9. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  12. The King held a masked ________________.
  13. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  14. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  15. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  16. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  17. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  18. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  19. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  20. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  21. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  22. That must've been a ________________.
  23. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  24. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. club — for golf
  3. current — electric
  4. current — of water
  5. stand — to bear
  6. ball — a round shape
  7. stand — for spectators
  8. date — on the calendar
  9. jam — a tight spot
  10. current — happening now
  11. jam — to spread on bread
  12. ball — a dance
  13. cabinet — a cupboard
  14. ball — a great time
  15. date — the fruit
  16. date — on the calendar
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. club — for dancing
  19. rush — hurry
  20. club — a group
  21. rush — to hurry
  22. rush — a thrill
  23. stand — on your feet
  24. jam — in traffic

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