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 · bound · rock · prune · chip · game · nail · suit

  1. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  2. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  3. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  4. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  5. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  6. That was a fun ________________.
  7. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  8. That was ________________ to happen.
  9. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  10. I can't ________________ this cold.
  11. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  12. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  13. When will it ________________ you to start?
  14. The ________________ went through the wall.
  15. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  16. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  17. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  18. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  19. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  20. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  21. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  22. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  23. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  24. We were using a ________________ as a seat.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — on a finger
  2. chip — to eat
  3. bound — obliged
  4. prune — the fruit
  5. chip — in a computer
  6. game — a match
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. bound — certain
  9. rock — music
  10. stand — to bear
  11. suit — in cards
  12. game — wild animals
  13. suit — to fit
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. bound — tied together
  16. game — a kind of play
  17. chip — for betting
  18. rock — to move gently
  19. prune — to trim
  20. stand — on your feet
  21. suit — clothes
  22. prune — to trim
  23. stand — for spectators
  24. rock — a stone

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