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 120 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 potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  3. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  4. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  5. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  6. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  7. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  8. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  9. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  10. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  11. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  12. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  13. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  14. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  15. My mare is ________________ in color.
  16. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  17. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  18. Don't do anything ________________.
  19. The ________________ market has crashed.
  20. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  21. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  22. I can't ________________ this cold.
  23. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  24. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. chip — to eat
  3. rash — a series
  4. bay — a part of the sea
  5. stock — a soup base
  6. rash — on the skin
  7. stand — on your feet
  8. root — the cause
  9. straw — a straw man
  10. chip — for betting
  11. straw — to clutch at straws
  12. chip — in a computer
  13. hand — in cards
  14. stock — goods
  15. bay — a horse colour
  16. hand — help
  17. root — of a plant
  18. rash — hasty
  19. stock — shares
  20. root — of a word
  21. straw — dry grass
  22. stand — to bear
  23. hand — part of the body
  24. bay — to keep at bay

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