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: suit · saw · last · bank · bear · game · stand · mug

  1. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  2. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  3. I can't ________________ this cold.
  4. He works in a ________________ mill.
  5. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  6. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  7. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  8. She's very handy with a ________________.
  9. False peace will not ________________.
  10. When will it ________________ you to start?
  11. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  12. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  13. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  14. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  15. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  16. That was a fun ________________.
  17. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  18. Where did you ________________ them?
  19. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  20. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  21. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  22. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  23. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  24. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.

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 face
  3. stand — to bear
  4. saw — the tool
  5. bank — of a river
  6. stand — for spectators
  7. bear — the animal
  8. saw — the tool
  9. last — to go on
  10. suit — to fit
  11. saw — past of 'see'
  12. mug — a cup
  13. last — final
  14. bear — to put up with
  15. bear — the animal
  16. game — a match
  17. suit — in cards
  18. mug — to rob
  19. suit — clothes
  20. bank — for money
  21. game — a kind of play
  22. last — finally
  23. game — wild animals
  24. bank — for money

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