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. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  2. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  3. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  4. What do you think of the new ________________?
  5. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  6. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  7. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  8. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  9. It's one o'clock ________________.
  10. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  11. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  12. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  13. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  14. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  15. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  16. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  17. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  18. He is an ace ________________.
  19. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  20. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  21. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  22. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  23. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  24. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a hint
  2. dip — a sauce
  3. mark — to pay attention
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. drill — army training
  6. mark — a trace
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. cabinet — a cupboard
  9. sharp — exactly
  10. mark — a grade
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. drill — a practice
  13. face — to point toward
  14. drill — the tool
  15. face — part of the head
  16. cue — for pool
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. pitcher — in baseball
  19. dip — to sink
  20. sharp — with an edge
  21. sharp — clever
  22. cue — a signal
  23. face — to confront
  24. dip — to dunk

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