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: coach · chair · pass · nail · jam · foot · tube · rash

  1. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  2. The ________________ went through the wall.
  3. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  4. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  5. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  6. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  7. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  8. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  9. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  10. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  11. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  12. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  13. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  14. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  15. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  16. I'll be taking the ________________.
  17. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  18. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  19. Have you met the new head ________________?
  20. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  21. Don't do anything ________________.
  22. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  23. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  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. foot — part of the body
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. rash — a series
  4. tube — in a tire
  5. foot — a measure
  6. nail — on a finger
  7. chair — a leader
  8. coach — pulled by horses
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. jam — in traffic
  11. pass — to succeed
  12. chair — to sit on
  13. rash — on the skin
  14. foot — the bottom
  15. chair — a professorship
  16. tube — the underground
  17. pass — to spend time
  18. tube — a container
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. jam — to spread on bread
  21. rash — hasty
  22. jam — a tight spot
  23. pass — a permit
  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