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: racket · staff · rash · current · fine · cap · toast · present

  1. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  2. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  3. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  4. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  5. Don't do anything ________________.
  6. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  7. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  8. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  9. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  10. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  11. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  12. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  13. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  14. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  15. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  16. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  17. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  18. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  19. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  20. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  21. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  22. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  23. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  24. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. toast — the most admired
  3. present — the time now
  4. cap — a hat
  5. rash — hasty
  6. racket — a loud noise
  7. fine — high quality
  8. rash — a series
  9. rash — on the skin
  10. fine — a penalty
  11. staff — a stick
  12. current — of water
  13. staff — employees
  14. cap — a lid
  15. racket — for tennis
  16. current — electric
  17. cap — of ice
  18. toast — bread
  19. racket — for tennis
  20. present — there
  21. fine — all right
  22. toast — a drink to someone
  23. present — a gift
  24. current — happening now

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