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 · cue · can · safe · last · snap · scale · board

  1. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  2. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  3. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  6. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  7. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  10. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  11. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  12. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  13. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  14. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  17. I can't ________________ this cold.
  18. False peace will not ________________.
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  23. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  24. He has no idea where the ________________ is.

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

Answer key

  1. board — a committee
  2. cue — a hint
  3. stand — for spectators
  4. can — to be able to
  5. scale — for weighing
  6. scale — in music
  7. last — final
  8. can — a tin
  9. last — finally
  10. scale — size or range
  11. snap — to speak sharply
  12. board — a flat piece
  13. board — to get on
  14. cue — for pool
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. cue — a signal
  17. stand — to bear
  18. last — to go on
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. snap — to click
  21. can — a tin
  22. stand — on your feet
  23. snap — to snap out of it
  24. safe — a strongbox

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