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: stand · mark · ruler · straw · row · chip · deal · pound

  1. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  2. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  3. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  4. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  5. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  6. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  7. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  8. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  9. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  10. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  11. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  12. I can't ________________ this cold.
  13. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  14. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  15. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  16. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  17. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  18. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  19. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  20. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  21. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  22. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  23. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  24. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — an agreement
  2. stand — for spectators
  3. mark — a trace
  4. row — a quarrel
  5. straw — dry grass
  6. ruler — a monarch
  7. deal — a big deal
  8. stand — on your feet
  9. deal — to handle
  10. chip — for betting
  11. row — to paddle
  12. stand — to bear
  13. row — a line
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. mark — to pay attention
  16. chip — in a computer
  17. pound — a weight
  18. straw — a straw man
  19. pound — to hit hard
  20. straw — to clutch at straws
  21. mark — a grade
  22. pound — for dogs
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. chip — to eat

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