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. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  2. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  3. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  4. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  5. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  6. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  7. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  8. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  9. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  10. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  11. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  12. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  13. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  14. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  15. The King held a masked ________________.
  16. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  17. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  18. The ________________ market has crashed.
  19. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  20. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  21. What do you think of the new ________________?
  22. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  23. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  24. I'll take my ________________ from you.

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

Answer key

  1. rule — to rule out
  2. drill — a practice
  3. rule — a law
  4. cue — for pool
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. ball — a great time
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. fan — to cool the air
  9. stock — goods
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. scale — in music
  12. drill — army training
  13. cue — a signal
  14. scale — size or range
  15. ball — a dance
  16. drill — the tool
  17. ball — a round shape
  18. stock — shares
  19. stock — a soup base
  20. rule — government
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. cabinet — a cupboard
  23. scale — for weighing
  24. cue — a hint

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