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: hand · nail · stand · mug · foot · suit · shower · pound

  1. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  2. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  3. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  4. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  5. I can't ________________ this cold.
  6. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  7. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  8. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  9. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  10. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  11. The ________________ went through the wall.
  12. Where did you ________________ them?
  13. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  14. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  15. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  16. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  17. When will it ________________ you to start?
  18. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  19. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  20. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  21. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  22. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  23. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  24. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.

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

Answer key

  1. hand — part of the body
  2. hand — help
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. hand — in cards
  5. stand — to bear
  6. suit — clothes
  7. shower — a meteor shower
  8. shower — to wash
  9. foot — a measure
  10. stand — for spectators
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. mug — to rob
  13. pound — a weight
  14. foot — part of the body
  15. pound — for dogs
  16. nail — on a finger
  17. suit — to fit
  18. pound — to hit hard
  19. mug — a cup
  20. stand — on your feet
  21. shower — rain
  22. mug — a face
  23. suit — in cards
  24. foot — the bottom

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