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: prune · safe · ball · coach · stand · track · chip · rash

  1. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  2. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  3. Have you met the new head ________________?
  4. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  5. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  8. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  9. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  12. The King held a masked ________________.
  13. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  14. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  15. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  16. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  17. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  18. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  19. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  20. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  21. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  22. I can't ________________ this cold.
  23. Don't do anything ________________.
  24. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — a strongbox
  2. stand — for spectators
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. track — a song
  5. chip — for betting
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. prune — to trim
  8. track — a path
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. chip — to eat
  12. ball — a dance
  13. ball — a great time
  14. rash — a series
  15. stand — on your feet
  16. prune — the fruit
  17. coach — pulled by horses
  18. chip — in a computer
  19. rash — on the skin
  20. track — to keep track
  21. ball — a round shape
  22. stand — to bear
  23. rash — hasty
  24. prune — to trim

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