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 116 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. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  2. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  3. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  4. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  5. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  8. The light ________________ burned out.
  9. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  10. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  11. The King held a masked ________________.
  12. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  13. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  14. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  15. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  16. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  17. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  18. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  19. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  20. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  21. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  22. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  23. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  24. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a hint
  2. kid — child
  3. bear — to put up with
  4. mark — a grade
  5. deal — to handle
  6. bulb — for light
  7. bank — of a river
  8. bulb — for light
  9. cue — a signal
  10. ball — a round shape
  11. ball — a dance
  12. bank — for money
  13. mark — to pay attention
  14. deal — a big deal
  15. mark — a trace
  16. cue — for pool
  17. ball — a great time
  18. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  19. deal — an agreement
  20. bear — the animal
  21. bulb — of a plant
  22. kid — to tease
  23. bear — the animal
  24. bank — for money

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