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: field · stand · rash · branch · staff · mate · fan · leaves

  1. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  2. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  3. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  4. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  5. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  6. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  7. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  8. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  9. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  10. Have you found your soul ________________?
  11. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  12. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  13. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  14. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  15. Don't do anything ________________.
  16. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  17. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  18. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  19. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  20. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  21. I can't ________________ this cold.
  22. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  23. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  24. Can you turn the ________________ on?

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

Answer key

  1. field — for sport
  2. stand — for spectators
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. mate — a friend
  5. branch — of a tree
  6. leaves — of a tree
  7. staff — a stick
  8. mate — to breed
  9. staff — employees
  10. mate — a partner
  11. stand — on your feet
  12. field — farmland
  13. staff — employees
  14. branch — of a bank
  15. rash — hasty
  16. branch — a division
  17. leaves — to go away
  18. leaves — lets stay
  19. rash — on the skin
  20. field — a subject
  21. stand — to bear
  22. rash — a series
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. fan — to cool the air

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