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 in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  2. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  3. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  4. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  5. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  6. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  7. Have you found your soul ________________?
  8. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  9. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  10. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  11. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  12. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  13. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  14. You don't need to ________________ round.
  15. Where did you ________________ them?
  16. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  17. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  18. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  19. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  20. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  21. We're almost out of ________________.
  22. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  23. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  24. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.

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

Answer key

  1. prune — the fruit
  2. bat — for baseball
  3. prune — to trim
  4. mate — to breed
  5. cue — a hint
  6. cue — a signal
  7. mate — a partner
  8. mouse — for a computer
  9. bat — in an idiom
  10. prune — to trim
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. cue — for pool
  13. ruler — a monarch
  14. pop — to visit
  15. mug — to rob
  16. bat — the animal
  17. mate — a friend
  18. pop — music
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. mug — a face
  21. pop — soda
  22. mug — a cup
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. mouse — the animal

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