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. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  2. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  3. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  4. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  5. I can't ________________ this cold.
  6. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  7. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  8. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  9. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  10. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  11. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  12. The King held a masked ________________.
  13. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  14. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  15. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  16. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  17. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  18. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  19. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  20. The ________________ went through the wall.
  21. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  22. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  23. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  24. I assure you, everything's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. nail — on a finger
  3. band — a ring
  4. fine — high quality
  5. stand — to bear
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. staff — a stick
  8. stand — for spectators
  9. pitch — a sports field
  10. staff — employees
  11. bank — of a river
  12. ball — a dance
  13. pitch — completely
  14. band — a music group
  15. pitch — a sales talk
  16. stand — on your feet
  17. bank — for money
  18. fine — a penalty
  19. band — a rubber band
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. ball — a great time
  22. bank — for money
  23. ball — a round shape
  24. fine — all right

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