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. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  2. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  3. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  4. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  5. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  6. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  7. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  8. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  9. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  10. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  11. Have you met the new head ________________?
  12. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  13. I can't ________________ this cold.
  14. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  15. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  16. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  17. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  18. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  19. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  20. That was ________________ to happen.
  21. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  22. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  23. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  24. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. firm — decided
  2. jam — in traffic
  3. jam — a tight spot
  4. squash — the sport
  5. coach — pulled by horses
  6. hide — to keep secret
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. squash — to crush
  9. bound — tied together
  10. firm — a company
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. bound — obliged
  13. stand — to bear
  14. fan — to cool the air
  15. jam — to spread on bread
  16. stand — on your feet
  17. firm — steady
  18. hide — to keep secret
  19. squash — the vegetable
  20. bound — certain
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. hide — animal skin
  24. stand — for spectators

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