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. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  3. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  4. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  5. There's no middle ________________.
  6. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  7. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  8. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  11. I can't ________________ this cold.
  12. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  13. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  14. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  15. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  16. How do you ________________ your surname?
  17. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  18. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  19. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  20. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  23. Did you ________________ the meat?
  24. Add some ________________ pepper to it.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. stand — on your feet
  3. spell — a short time
  4. rock — a stone
  5. ground — a position
  6. face — part of the head
  7. field — farmland
  8. season — of the year
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. rock — music
  11. stand — to bear
  12. field — a subject
  13. ground — the earth
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. spell — magic
  16. spell — letters
  17. field — for sport
  18. rock — to move gently
  19. face — to confront
  20. face — to point toward
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. season — in sport
  23. season — to add flavour
  24. ground — crushed

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