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 · mark · spring · foot · deal · prune · mate · chip

  1. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  2. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  3. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  4. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  5. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  6. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  7. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  8. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  9. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  10. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  11. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  12. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  13. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  14. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  15. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  16. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  17. Have you found your soul ________________?
  18. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  19. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  20. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  21. I can't ________________ this cold.
  22. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  23. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  24. The flowers bloom in the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — to eat
  2. mark — a trace
  3. stand — for spectators
  4. foot — part of the body
  5. chip — for betting
  6. foot — the bottom
  7. mate — a friend
  8. mark — a grade
  9. mark — to pay attention
  10. chip — in a computer
  11. mate — to breed
  12. prune — to trim
  13. prune — the fruit
  14. deal — a big deal
  15. spring — a coil
  16. deal — an agreement
  17. mate — a partner
  18. prune — to trim
  19. foot — a measure
  20. deal — to handle
  21. stand — to bear
  22. stand — on your feet
  23. spring — of water
  24. spring — the season

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