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: tube · stand · current · foot · saw · staff · jam · mine

  1. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  3. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  4. I'll be taking the ________________.
  5. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  6. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  7. He works in a ________________ mill.
  8. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  9. She's very handy with a ________________.
  10. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  13. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  14. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  15. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  16. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  17. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  18. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  19. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  20. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  21. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  22. I can't ________________ this cold.
  23. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  24. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. mine — an explosive
  3. mine — for digging
  4. tube — the underground
  5. saw — past of 'see'
  6. jam — a tight spot
  7. saw — the tool
  8. tube — in a tire
  9. saw — the tool
  10. jam — to spread on bread
  11. current — of water
  12. foot — a measure
  13. mine — belonging to me
  14. current — happening now
  15. staff — employees
  16. current — electric
  17. foot — the bottom
  18. staff — a stick
  19. tube — a container
  20. jam — in traffic
  21. stand — on your feet
  22. stand — to bear
  23. foot — part of the body
  24. staff — employees

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