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. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  2. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  3. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  4. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  5. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  6. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  7. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  8. Did you ________________ the button?
  9. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  10. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  11. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  12. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  13. Have you met the new head ________________?
  14. This piece is in a major ________________.
  15. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  16. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  17. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  18. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  19. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  20. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  21. The ________________ market has crashed.
  22. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  23. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  24. Can you turn the ________________ on?

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

Answer key

  1. fan — a supporter
  2. stock — a soup base
  3. cue — for pool
  4. key — for a lock
  5. bore — to drill
  6. hand — in cards
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. press — to push
  9. stock — goods
  10. press — a publisher
  11. key — the most important part
  12. coach — pulled by horses
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. key — in music
  15. hand — help
  16. press — newspapers
  17. cue — a hint
  18. bore — to tire
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. hand — part of the body
  21. stock — shares
  22. cue — a signal
  23. bore — gave birth
  24. fan — to cool the air

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