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: land · current · racket · ball · pitcher · pitch · stand · chip

  1. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  2. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  3. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  4. I can't ________________ this cold.
  5. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  6. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  7. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  8. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  9. When are we going to ________________?
  10. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  11. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  12. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  13. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  14. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  15. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  16. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  17. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  18. The King held a masked ________________.
  19. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  20. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  21. He is an ace ________________.
  22. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  23. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  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. stand — on your feet
  2. pitch — completely
  3. racket — a loud noise
  4. stand — to bear
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. pitch — a sales talk
  7. ball — a great time
  8. pitch — a sports field
  9. land — to come down
  10. land — ground
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. current — electric
  13. chip — in a computer
  14. ball — a round shape
  15. current — of water
  16. racket — for tennis
  17. land — a country
  18. ball — a dance
  19. current — happening now
  20. chip — for betting
  21. pitcher — in baseball
  22. chip — to eat
  23. racket — for tennis
  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