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 · last · drill · chip · rock · lie · charge · cap

  1. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  2. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  3. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  4. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  5. False peace will not ________________.
  6. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  7. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  8. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  9. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  10. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  11. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  12. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  13. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  14. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  15. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  16. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  17. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  18. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  19. I can't ________________ this cold.
  20. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  21. The tickets are free of ________________.
  22. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  23. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  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 — on your feet
  2. charge — in control
  3. last — final
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. last — to go on
  6. drill — army training
  7. chip — for betting
  8. rock — to move gently
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. stand — for spectators
  11. chip — in a computer
  12. charge — electricity
  13. lie — to recline
  14. drill — a practice
  15. cap — a lid
  16. chip — to eat
  17. rock — a stone
  18. rock — music
  19. stand — to bear
  20. cap — of ice
  21. charge — a price
  22. drill — the tool
  23. last — finally
  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