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 116 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: stand · spell · safe · straw · ball · track · season · cap

  1. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  3. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  4. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  5. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. Did you ________________ the meat?
  8. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  9. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  10. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  11. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  12. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  13. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  14. How do you ________________ your surname?
  15. I can't ________________ this cold.
  16. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  17. The King held a masked ________________.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  20. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  23. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  24. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. season — in sport
  3. stand — on your feet
  4. ball — a great time
  5. straw — to clutch at straws
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. season — to add flavour
  8. spell — magic
  9. cap — a lid
  10. ball — a round shape
  11. track — a song
  12. straw — dry grass
  13. track — to keep track
  14. spell — letters
  15. stand — to bear
  16. cap — of ice
  17. ball — a dance
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. straw — a straw man
  20. track — a path
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. spell — a short time
  23. season — of the year
  24. cap — a hat

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