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. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  2. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  3. I can't ________________ this cold.
  4. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  5. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  6. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  7. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  8. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  9. False peace will not ________________.
  10. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  11. He works in a ________________ mill.
  12. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  13. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  14. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  15. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  16. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  17. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  18. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  19. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  20. She's very handy with a ________________.
  21. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  22. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  23. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  24. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — army training
  2. bear — to put up with
  3. stand — to bear
  4. foot — part of the body
  5. drill — a practice
  6. last — finally
  7. racket — for tennis
  8. staff — employees
  9. last — to go on
  10. drill — the tool
  11. saw — the tool
  12. staff — a stick
  13. racket — for tennis
  14. last — final
  15. bear — the animal
  16. foot — a measure
  17. bear — the animal
  18. saw — past of 'see'
  19. stand — on your feet
  20. saw — the tool
  21. foot — the bottom
  22. staff — employees
  23. stand — for spectators
  24. racket — a loud noise

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