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 120 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. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  2. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  3. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  4. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  5. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  6. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  7. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  8. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  9. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  10. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  11. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  12. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  13. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  14. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  15. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  16. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  17. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  18. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  19. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  20. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  21. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  22. The ________________ went through the wall.
  23. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  24. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.

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

Answer key

  1. vault — a safe
  2. squash — the vegetable
  3. squash — the sport
  4. wake — a trail
  5. prune — the fruit
  6. prune — to trim
  7. mark — to pay attention
  8. nail — on a finger
  9. mark — a grade
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. firm — steady
  12. wake — before a funeral
  13. vault — in gymnastics
  14. vault — an arched ceiling
  15. prune — to trim
  16. firm — a company
  17. mark — a trace
  18. cue — a signal
  19. squash — to crush
  20. wake — to stop sleeping
  21. cue — for pool
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. cue — a hint
  24. firm — decided

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