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: leaves · safe · stock · rush · cold · staff · stand · tube

  1. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  2. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  3. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  4. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  5. I can't ________________ this cold.
  6. I had a bad ________________ and was in bed for a week.
  7. The water is too ________________.
  8. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  9. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  10. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. The ________________ market has crashed.
  13. That must've been a ________________.
  14. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  15. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  16. I'll be taking the ________________.
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. Its rival in the ________________ War, the Soviet Union, exploited this at the time.
  19. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  20. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  23. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  24. The train ________________ at six o'clock.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. stand — for spectators
  3. staff — employees
  4. tube — a container
  5. stand — to bear
  6. cold — an illness
  7. cold — not warm
  8. leaves — lets stay
  9. rush — hurry
  10. staff — a stick
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. stock — shares
  13. rush — a thrill
  14. stand — on your feet
  15. stock — a soup base
  16. tube — the underground
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. cold — the Cold War
  19. stock — goods
  20. leaves — of a tree
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. rush — to hurry
  23. tube — in a tire
  24. leaves — to go away

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