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 don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  2. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  3. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  4. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  5. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  6. I can't ________________ this cold.
  7. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  8. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  9. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  10. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  11. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  12. It's one o'clock ________________.
  13. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  14. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  15. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  16. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  17. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  18. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  19. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  20. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  21. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  22. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  23. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  24. My father caught me by the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. mouse — for a computer
  3. cue — for pool
  4. board — a committee
  5. spring — the season
  6. stand — to bear
  7. arm — a part of something
  8. board — a flat piece
  9. sharp — clever
  10. stand — for spectators
  11. spring — a coil
  12. sharp — exactly
  13. spring — of water
  14. board — to get on
  15. cue — a signal
  16. arm — part of the body
  17. sharp — with an edge
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. cue — a hint
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. ruler — a monarch
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. stand — on your feet
  24. arm — part of the body

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