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. She's very handy with a ________________.
  2. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  3. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  4. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  5. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  6. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  7. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  8. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  9. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. He works in a ________________ mill.
  12. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  13. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  14. I can't ________________ this cold.
  15. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  16. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  17. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  18. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  19. That was a fun ________________.
  20. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  21. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  22. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  23. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  24. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. fine — a penalty
  3. game — a kind of play
  4. fine — high quality
  5. vault — an arched ceiling
  6. foot — the bottom
  7. staff — a stick
  8. foot — part of the body
  9. foot — a measure
  10. current — happening now
  11. saw — the tool
  12. stand — for spectators
  13. current — electric
  14. stand — to bear
  15. vault — a safe
  16. fine — all right
  17. game — wild animals
  18. current — of water
  19. game — a match
  20. stand — on your feet
  21. staff — employees
  22. saw — past of 'see'
  23. staff — employees
  24. vault — in gymnastics

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