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 coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  2. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  3. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  4. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  5. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  6. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  7. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  8. He is an ace ________________.
  9. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  10. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  11. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  12. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  13. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  14. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  15. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  16. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  17. I can't ________________ this cold.
  18. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  19. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  20. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  21. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  22. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  23. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  24. David sat on the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. swing — in golf
  2. bark — to shout
  3. drill — a practice
  4. chip — in a computer
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. drill — the tool
  7. board — to get on
  8. pitcher — in baseball
  9. mine — belonging to me
  10. mine — an explosive
  11. board — a committee
  12. swing — music
  13. bark — a dog's sound
  14. drill — army training
  15. mine — for digging
  16. chip — to eat
  17. stand — to bear
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. stand — for spectators
  20. chip — for betting
  21. board — a flat piece
  22. stand — on your feet
  23. bark — of a tree
  24. swing — to play on

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