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: stand · staff · bound · toast · cue · fine · current · straw

  1. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  2. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  3. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  4. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  5. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  6. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  7. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  8. I can't ________________ this cold.
  9. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  10. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  11. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  12. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  13. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  14. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  15. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  16. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  17. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  18. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  19. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  20. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  21. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  22. That was ________________ to happen.
  23. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  24. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. bound — obliged
  3. toast — bread
  4. current — happening now
  5. straw — a straw man
  6. current — of water
  7. bound — tied together
  8. stand — to bear
  9. straw — to clutch at straws
  10. staff — a stick
  11. current — electric
  12. stand — for spectators
  13. fine — high quality
  14. cue — a signal
  15. fine — all right
  16. staff — employees
  17. toast — a drink to someone
  18. cue — for pool
  19. straw — dry grass
  20. cue — a hint
  21. stand — on your feet
  22. bound — certain
  23. fine — a penalty
  24. toast — the most admired

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