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: court · foot · file · jam · firm · stand · arm · pop

  1. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  3. My father caught me by the ________________.
  4. You don't need to ________________ round.
  5. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  6. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  7. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  8. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  9. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  10. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  11. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  12. I can't ________________ this cold.
  13. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  14. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  15. We're almost out of ________________.
  16. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  17. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  18. The ball is in your ________________.
  19. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  20. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  21. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  22. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  23. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  24. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. firm — decided
  3. arm — part of the body
  4. pop — to visit
  5. stand — on your feet
  6. foot — part of the body
  7. pop — music
  8. foot — a measure
  9. court — of law
  10. arm — a part of something
  11. jam — in traffic
  12. stand — to bear
  13. file — a tool
  14. file — a line of people
  15. pop — soda
  16. jam — to spread on bread
  17. court — of a king
  18. court — for sport
  19. jam — a tight spot
  20. firm — a company
  21. firm — steady
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. file — a document
  24. foot — the bottom

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