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 120 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 · deal · cell · stick · key · land · spring · rock

  1. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  2. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  3. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  4. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  5. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  6. This piece is in a major ________________.
  7. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  8. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  9. He was locked up in a ________________.
  10. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  11. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  12. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  13. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  14. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  15. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  16. When are we going to ________________?
  17. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  18. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  19. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  20. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  21. I can't ________________ this cold.
  22. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  23. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  24. I don't want to ________________ the boat.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — to attach or keep to
  2. land — ground
  3. cell — in biology
  4. land — a country
  5. spring — of water
  6. key — in music
  7. spring — the season
  8. deal — an agreement
  9. cell — in a prison
  10. cell — a phone
  11. rock — a stone
  12. stick — a piece of wood
  13. key — the most important part
  14. spring — a coil
  15. deal — to handle
  16. land — to come down
  17. stand — for spectators
  18. rock — music
  19. stand — on your feet
  20. stick — a piece of wood
  21. stand — to bear
  22. key — for a lock
  23. deal — a big deal
  24. rock — to move gently

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