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: charge · rush · track · coach · stem · ball · march · stand

  1. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  2. That must've been a ________________.
  3. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  4. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  5. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  6. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  7. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  8. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  9. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  10. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  11. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  12. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  13. I can't ________________ this cold.
  14. Have you met the new head ________________?
  15. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  16. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  17. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  18. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  19. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  20. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  21. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  22. The King held a masked ________________.
  23. The tickets are free of ________________.
  24. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — pulled by horses
  2. rush — a thrill
  3. march — music
  4. charge — electricity
  5. track — a song
  6. stand — on your feet
  7. stand — for spectators
  8. march — the month
  9. rush — to hurry
  10. ball — a round shape
  11. stem — to come from
  12. ball — a great time
  13. stand — to bear
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. stem — a stem cell
  16. charge — in control
  17. stem — of a plant
  18. track — to keep track
  19. rush — hurry
  20. track — a path
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. ball — a dance
  23. charge — a price
  24. march — the month

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