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. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  2. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  3. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  4. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  5. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  6. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  7. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  8. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  9. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  10. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  11. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  12. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  13. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  14. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  15. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  16. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  17. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  18. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  19. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  20. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  21. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  22. I'll be taking the ________________.
  23. This piece is in a major ________________.
  24. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.

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

Answer key

  1. squash — the vegetable
  2. cue — a signal
  3. key — for a lock
  4. mark — a grade
  5. wave — with your hand
  6. staff — a stick
  7. tube — a container
  8. cue — for pool
  9. squash — the sport
  10. tube — in a tire
  11. staff — employees
  12. cue — a hint
  13. mark — a trace
  14. staff — employees
  15. key — the most important part
  16. branch — of a tree
  17. branch — a division
  18. wave — a sudden rise
  19. mark — to pay attention
  20. branch — of a bank
  21. wave — of the sea
  22. tube — the underground
  23. key — in music
  24. squash — to crush

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