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: pitcher · stand · coach · key · bulb · pass · net · board

  1. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  2. I've got to change the light ________________.
  3. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  4. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  5. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  6. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  7. He is an ace ________________.
  8. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  9. Have you met the new head ________________?
  10. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  11. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  12. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  13. This piece is in a major ________________.
  14. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  15. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  16. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  17. I can't ________________ this cold.
  18. The light ________________ burned out.
  19. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  20. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  21. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  22. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  23. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  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. board — to get on
  2. bulb — for light
  3. net — after costs
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. pass — a permit
  6. board — a flat piece
  7. pitcher — in baseball
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. stand — on your feet
  11. bulb — of a plant
  12. board — a committee
  13. key — in music
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. net — in sport
  16. net — for catching
  17. stand — to bear
  18. bulb — for light
  19. key — for a lock
  20. pass — to succeed
  21. pass — to spend time
  22. key — the most important part
  23. coach — pulled by horses
  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