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: current · pitcher · leaves · fine · march · face · stand · chip

  1. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  2. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  3. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  4. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  5. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  6. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  7. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  8. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  9. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  10. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  11. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  12. I can't ________________ this cold.
  13. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  14. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  15. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  16. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  17. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  18. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  19. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  20. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  21. He is an ace ________________.
  22. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  23. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  24. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — all right
  2. leaves — lets stay
  3. chip — for betting
  4. face — part of the head
  5. current — happening now
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. chip — to eat
  8. leaves — of a tree
  9. face — to confront
  10. stand — on your feet
  11. march — the month
  12. stand — to bear
  13. current — electric
  14. fine — high quality
  15. chip — in a computer
  16. fine — a penalty
  17. face — to point toward
  18. march — music
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. current — of water
  21. pitcher — in baseball
  22. march — the month
  23. leaves — to go away
  24. stand — for spectators

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