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: foot · wound · jam · mark · scale · present · rash · stand

  1. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  2. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  3. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  4. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  5. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  6. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  7. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  8. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  9. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  10. I can't ________________ this cold.
  11. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  12. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  13. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  14. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  15. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  16. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  17. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  18. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  19. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  20. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  21. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  22. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  23. Don't do anything ________________.
  24. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.

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

Answer key

  1. wound — an injury
  2. jam — in traffic
  3. scale — size or range
  4. foot — part of the body
  5. foot — a measure
  6. present — there
  7. rash — on the skin
  8. stand — on your feet
  9. scale — in music
  10. stand — to bear
  11. wound — an injury
  12. mark — a grade
  13. mark — a trace
  14. wound — past of 'wind'
  15. mark — to pay attention
  16. stand — for spectators
  17. jam — a tight spot
  18. present — a gift
  19. foot — the bottom
  20. jam — to spread on bread
  21. scale — for weighing
  22. present — the time now
  23. rash — hasty
  24. rash — a series

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