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. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  2. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  3. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  4. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  5. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  6. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  7. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  8. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  9. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  10. She's very handy with a ________________.
  11. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  12. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  13. When will it ________________ you to start?
  14. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  15. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  16. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  17. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  18. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  19. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  20. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  21. He works in a ________________ mill.
  22. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  23. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  24. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.

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

Answer key

  1. vault — in gymnastics
  2. cue — a hint
  3. cue — for pool
  4. jam — a tight spot
  5. suit — in cards
  6. bat — the animal
  7. net — in sport
  8. net — for catching
  9. saw — past of 'see'
  10. saw — the tool
  11. vault — an arched ceiling
  12. firm — decided
  13. suit — to fit
  14. jam — in traffic
  15. bat — in an idiom
  16. net — after costs
  17. cue — a signal
  18. firm — a company
  19. jam — to spread on bread
  20. vault — a safe
  21. saw — the tool
  22. suit — clothes
  23. firm — steady
  24. bat — for baseball

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