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 from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: foot · safe · coach · stand · current · mine · pass · straw

  1. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  2. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  3. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  4. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  5. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  8. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  9. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  12. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  13. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  14. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  15. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  18. I can't ________________ this cold.
  19. Have you met the new head ________________?
  20. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  21. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  22. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  23. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  24. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.

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

Answer key

  1. mine — an explosive
  2. pass — to succeed
  3. coach — pulled by horses
  4. straw — a straw man
  5. pass — to spend time
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. foot — the bottom
  8. stand — for spectators
  9. current — happening now
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. pass — a permit
  12. mine — for digging
  13. foot — a measure
  14. mine — belonging to me
  15. straw — to clutch at straws
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. current — of water
  18. stand — to bear
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. current — electric
  21. straw — dry grass
  22. foot — part of the body
  23. stand — on your feet
  24. coach — a trainer

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