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 players ran onto the football ________________.
  2. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  5. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  6. I can't ________________ this cold.
  7. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  8. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  9. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  10. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  11. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  12. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  13. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  14. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  15. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  16. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  17. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  20. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  21. That must've been a ________________.
  22. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  23. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  24. I've got the luggage in my ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pitch — a sports field
  2. pitch — a sales talk
  3. rock — a stone
  4. rock — music
  5. rush — to hurry
  6. stand — to bear
  7. trunk — of a tree
  8. file — a document
  9. hand — in cards
  10. stand — for spectators
  11. hand — part of the body
  12. rock — to move gently
  13. file — a line of people
  14. bank — of a river
  15. bank — for money
  16. hand — help
  17. file — a tool
  18. rush — hurry
  19. trunk — of an elephant
  20. stand — on your feet
  21. rush — a thrill
  22. bank — for money
  23. pitch — completely
  24. trunk — of a car

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