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: season · fan · arm · game · suit · rush · firm · current

  1. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  2. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  3. Did you ________________ the meat?
  4. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  5. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  6. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  7. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  8. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  9. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  10. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  11. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  12. That must've been a ________________.
  13. When will it ________________ you to start?
  14. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  15. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  16. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  17. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  18. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  19. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  20. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  21. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  22. My father caught me by the ________________.
  23. That was a fun ________________.
  24. Can you turn the ________________ on?

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

Answer key

  1. arm — part of the body
  2. season — of the year
  3. season — to add flavour
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. current — of water
  6. suit — clothes
  7. game — wild animals
  8. firm — decided
  9. rush — to hurry
  10. suit — in cards
  11. current — electric
  12. rush — a thrill
  13. suit — to fit
  14. season — in sport
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. arm — a part of something
  17. firm — a company
  18. current — happening now
  19. firm — steady
  20. rush — hurry
  21. game — a kind of play
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. game — a match
  24. fan — to cool the air

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