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: stand · ruler · chip · foot · mate · coach · wound · race

  1. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  2. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  3. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  4. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  5. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  6. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  7. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  8. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  9. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  10. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  11. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  12. Have you found your soul ________________?
  13. I can't ________________ this cold.
  14. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  15. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  16. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  17. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  18. Have you met the new head ________________?
  19. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  20. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  21. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  22. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  23. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  24. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — part of the body
  2. stand — for spectators
  3. foot — the bottom
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. wound — past of 'wind'
  6. coach — pulled by horses
  7. race — humankind
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. chip — for betting
  10. mate — a friend
  11. chip — in a computer
  12. mate — a partner
  13. stand — to bear
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. foot — a measure
  16. chip — to eat
  17. race — a contest
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. wound — an injury
  20. ruler — a monarch
  21. wound — an injury
  22. mate — to breed
  23. stand — on your feet
  24. race — the arms race

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