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 in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  2. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  3. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  4. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  5. It's one o'clock ________________.
  6. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  7. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  8. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  9. When are we going to ________________?
  10. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  11. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  12. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  13. He is an ace ________________.
  14. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  15. I can't ________________ this cold.
  16. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  17. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  20. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  23. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  24. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — a stick
  2. sharp — clever
  3. staff — employees
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. sharp — exactly
  6. pit — a hole
  7. land — a country
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. land — to come down
  10. sharp — with an edge
  11. staff — employees
  12. rock — to move gently
  13. pitcher — in baseball
  14. land — ground
  15. stand — to bear
  16. stand — for spectators
  17. rock — music
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. pit — a fruit stone
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. rock — a stone
  23. pit — in a race
  24. stand — on your feet

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