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 120 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 soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  3. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  4. I can't ________________ this cold.
  5. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  6. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  7. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  8. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  9. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  10. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  11. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  12. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  13. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  14. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  15. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  16. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  17. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  18. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  19. Have you met the new head ________________?
  20. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  21. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  22. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  23. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  24. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. drill — army training
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. stand — to bear
  5. row — a line
  6. bank — for money
  7. stand — on your feet
  8. mine — belonging to me
  9. foot — part of the body
  10. bank — of a river
  11. row — to paddle
  12. row — a quarrel
  13. drill — a practice
  14. drill — the tool
  15. mine — for digging
  16. mine — an explosive
  17. coach — pulled by horses
  18. bank — for money
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. staff — employees
  21. staff — a stick
  22. foot — the bottom
  23. staff — employees
  24. foot — a measure

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