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 newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  3. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  4. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  5. I can't ________________ this cold.
  6. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  7. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  8. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  9. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  10. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  11. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  12. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  13. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  14. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  15. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  16. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  17. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  18. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  19. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  20. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  21. Have you settled on a ________________?
  22. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  23. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  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. stand — for spectators
  2. foot — the bottom
  3. date — the fruit
  4. trunk — of a car
  5. stand — to bear
  6. wind — moving air
  7. foot — a measure
  8. rock — music
  9. foot — part of the body
  10. branch — a division
  11. staff — employees
  12. wind — to turn a key
  13. trunk — of an elephant
  14. rock — to move gently
  15. rock — a stone
  16. wind — moving air
  17. trunk — of a tree
  18. branch — of a bank
  19. branch — of a tree
  20. staff — a stick
  21. date — on the calendar
  22. date — on the calendar
  23. staff — employees
  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