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: mine · stand · tube · rash · mug · bulb · jam · track

  1. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  2. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  3. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  4. I can't ________________ this cold.
  5. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  6. The light ________________ burned out.
  7. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  8. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  9. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  10. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  11. Don't do anything ________________.
  12. I've got to change the light ________________.
  13. I'll be taking the ________________.
  14. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  15. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  16. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  17. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  18. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  19. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  20. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  21. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  22. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  23. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  24. Where did you ________________ them?

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

Answer key

  1. stand — on your feet
  2. mug — a cup
  3. mine — belonging to me
  4. stand — to bear
  5. mug — a face
  6. bulb — for light
  7. jam — a tight spot
  8. mine — for digging
  9. tube — a container
  10. track — to keep track
  11. rash — hasty
  12. bulb — for light
  13. tube — the underground
  14. jam — to spread on bread
  15. rash — a series
  16. tube — in a tire
  17. rash — on the skin
  18. track — a song
  19. mine — an explosive
  20. track — a path
  21. bulb — of a plant
  22. jam — in traffic
  23. stand — for spectators
  24. mug — to rob

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