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. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  2. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  3. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  4. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  5. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  6. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  7. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  8. The ________________ took off on time.
  9. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  10. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  11. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  12. The ________________ went through the wall.
  13. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  14. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  15. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  16. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  17. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  18. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  19. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  20. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  21. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  22. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  23. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  24. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a hint
  2. patient — a sick person
  3. face — to point toward
  4. cue — a signal
  5. wax — for sculpting
  6. board — a committee
  7. patient — calm and waiting
  8. plane — an aircraft
  9. nail — on a finger
  10. scale — in music
  11. board — to get on
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. plane — in geometry
  15. wax — to grow
  16. face — part of the head
  17. wax — in the ear
  18. scale — size or range
  19. board — a flat piece
  20. cue — for pool
  21. face — to confront
  22. scale — for weighing
  23. patient — a sick person
  24. plane — a tool

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