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 120 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: coach · season · current · ruler · bound · stand · spring · leaves

  1. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  2. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  3. I can't ________________ this cold.
  4. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  5. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  6. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  7. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  8. Did you ________________ the meat?
  9. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  10. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  11. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  12. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  13. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  14. That was ________________ to happen.
  15. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  16. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  17. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  18. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  19. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  20. Have you met the new head ________________?
  21. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  22. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  23. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  24. The train ________________ at six o'clock.

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

Answer key

  1. spring — the season
  2. bound — obliged
  3. stand — to bear
  4. bound — tied together
  5. season — of the year
  6. current — of water
  7. stand — for spectators
  8. season — to add flavour
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. ruler — a monarch
  12. season — in sport
  13. coach — pulled by horses
  14. bound — certain
  15. leaves — of a tree
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. spring — a coil
  18. stand — on your feet
  19. leaves — lets stay
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. current — happening now
  22. spring — of water
  23. current — electric
  24. leaves — to go away

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