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 120 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: band · fine · current · last · board · lash · coach · rush

  1. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  2. False peace will not ________________.
  3. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  4. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  5. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  6. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  7. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  8. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  9. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  10. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  11. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  12. Have you met the new head ________________?
  13. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  14. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  15. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  16. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  17. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  18. That must've been a ________________.
  19. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  20. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  21. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  22. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  23. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  24. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. current — of water
  2. last — to go on
  3. band — a rubber band
  4. board — to get on
  5. lash — to lash out
  6. last — finally
  7. current — happening now
  8. board — a committee
  9. fine — a penalty
  10. rush — hurry
  11. coach — pulled by horses
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. last — final
  15. band — a music group
  16. lash — a whip stroke
  17. band — a ring
  18. rush — a thrill
  19. board — a flat piece
  20. fine — high quality
  21. rush — to hurry
  22. lash — an eyelash
  23. fine — all right
  24. current — electric

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