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. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  2. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  3. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  4. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  5. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  6. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  7. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  8. He is an ace ________________.
  9. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  10. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  11. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  12. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  13. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  14. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  15. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  16. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  17. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  18. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  19. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  20. What do you think of the new ________________?
  21. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  22. Don't do anything ________________.
  23. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  24. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — a cupboard
  2. pitch — a sales talk
  3. rash — on the skin
  4. rash — a series
  5. chip — in a computer
  6. pitch — completely
  7. chip — to eat
  8. pitcher — in baseball
  9. staff — employees
  10. firm — a company
  11. chest — of your body
  12. chest — of your body
  13. staff — employees
  14. pitch — a sports field
  15. staff — a stick
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. firm — steady
  19. chest — a box
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. rash — hasty
  23. firm — decided
  24. chip — for betting

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