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 116 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. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  2. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  3. I've got to change the light ________________.
  4. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  5. She's very handy with a ________________.
  6. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  7. I can't ________________ this cold.
  8. When will it ________________ you to start?
  9. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  10. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  11. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  12. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  13. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  14. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  15. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  16. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  17. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  18. He works in a ________________ mill.
  19. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  20. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  21. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  22. The ________________ went through the wall.
  23. The light ________________ burned out.
  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. board — a committee
  2. nail — on a finger
  3. bulb — for light
  4. stand — for spectators
  5. saw — the tool
  6. suit — clothes
  7. stand — to bear
  8. suit — to fit
  9. board — to get on
  10. saw — past of 'see'
  11. chair — a professorship
  12. track — to keep track
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. chair — to sit on
  15. track — a path
  16. board — a flat piece
  17. chair — a leader
  18. saw — the tool
  19. bulb — of a plant
  20. suit — in cards
  21. track — a song
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. bulb — for light
  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