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. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  3. You don't need to ________________ round.
  4. I can't ________________ this cold.
  5. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  6. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  7. Have you met the new head ________________?
  8. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  9. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  10. We're almost out of ________________.
  11. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  12. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  13. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  14. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  15. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  16. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  17. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  18. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  19. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  20. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  21. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  22. The tickets are free of ________________.
  23. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  24. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. pop — to visit
  4. stand — to bear
  5. hand — in cards
  6. squash — to crush
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. pop — music
  9. content — happy
  10. pop — soda
  11. stand — on your feet
  12. charge — in control
  13. mark — a grade
  14. squash — the sport
  15. charge — electricity
  16. content — videos and posts
  17. hand — part of the body
  18. hand — help
  19. coach — pulled by horses
  20. mark — a trace
  21. content — the amount
  22. charge — a price
  23. mark — to pay attention
  24. squash — the vegetable

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