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: toast · saw · vault · chest · mug · coach · stem · charge

  1. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  2. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  3. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  4. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  5. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  6. He works in a ________________ mill.
  7. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  8. She's very handy with a ________________.
  9. Have you met the new head ________________?
  10. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  11. The tickets are free of ________________.
  12. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  13. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  14. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  15. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  16. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  17. Where did you ________________ them?
  18. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  19. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  20. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  21. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  22. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  23. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  24. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.

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

Answer key

  1. chest — of your body
  2. mug — a face
  3. charge — in control
  4. toast — the most admired
  5. mug — a cup
  6. saw — the tool
  7. chest — of your body
  8. saw — the tool
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. vault — an arched ceiling
  11. charge — a price
  12. stem — a stem cell
  13. coach — pulled by horses
  14. chest — a box
  15. stem — to come from
  16. stem — of a plant
  17. mug — to rob
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. vault — in gymnastics
  20. charge — electricity
  21. saw — past of 'see'
  22. toast — a drink to someone
  23. vault — a safe
  24. toast — bread

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