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: jam · foot · scale · trunk · ball · pop · firm · board

  1. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  2. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  3. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  4. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  5. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  6. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  7. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  8. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  9. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  10. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  11. We're almost out of ________________.
  12. You don't need to ________________ round.
  13. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  14. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  15. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  16. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  17. The King held a masked ________________.
  18. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  19. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  20. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  21. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  22. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  23. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  24. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.

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

Answer key

  1. board — a committee
  2. firm — steady
  3. jam — in traffic
  4. jam — to spread on bread
  5. foot — part of the body
  6. trunk — of an elephant
  7. foot — the bottom
  8. jam — a tight spot
  9. ball — a great time
  10. firm — decided
  11. pop — soda
  12. pop — to visit
  13. ball — a round shape
  14. scale — size or range
  15. trunk — of a car
  16. board — to get on
  17. ball — a dance
  18. firm — a company
  19. pop — music
  20. board — a flat piece
  21. scale — for weighing
  22. scale — in music
  23. foot — a measure
  24. trunk — of a tree

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