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. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  2. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  3. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  4. That was a fun ________________.
  5. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  6. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  7. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  8. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  9. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  10. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  13. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  14. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  15. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  16. What do you think of the new ________________?
  17. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  18. That must've been a ________________.
  19. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  20. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  21. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  22. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  23. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  24. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pound — for dogs
  2. rush — to hurry
  3. lie — to recline
  4. game — a match
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. game — wild animals
  7. cue — for pool
  8. current — happening now
  9. game — a kind of play
  10. cue — a signal
  11. current — of water
  12. net — for catching
  13. cue — a hint
  14. current — electric
  15. pound — a weight
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. net — in sport
  18. rush — a thrill
  19. pound — to hit hard
  20. net — after costs
  21. rush — hurry
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. lie — an untruth
  24. cabinet — a cupboard

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