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. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  3. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  4. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  5. Have you found your soul ________________?
  6. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  7. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  8. I can't ________________ this cold.
  9. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  10. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  11. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  12. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  13. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  14. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  15. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  16. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  17. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  18. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  19. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  20. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  21. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  22. Where did you ________________ them?
  23. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  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. stand — for spectators
  2. hide — to keep secret
  3. mark — a trace
  4. mug — a face
  5. mate — a partner
  6. net — in sport
  7. net — for catching
  8. stand — to bear
  9. hide — animal skin
  10. mark — to pay attention
  11. wax — in the ear
  12. wax — for sculpting
  13. mark — a grade
  14. mine — for digging
  15. wax — to grow
  16. mate — to breed
  17. hide — to keep secret
  18. net — after costs
  19. mate — a friend
  20. mug — a cup
  21. mine — belonging to me
  22. mug — to rob
  23. mine — an explosive
  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