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 116 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. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  3. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  4. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  5. He is an ace ________________.
  6. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  7. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  8. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  9. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  10. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. How do you ________________ your surname?
  13. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  14. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  15. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  16. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  17. There's no middle ________________.
  18. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  19. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  20. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  21. The tickets are free of ________________.
  22. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  23. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  24. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rule — to rule out
  2. bass — the instrument
  3. ground — the earth
  4. cue — a signal
  5. pitcher — in baseball
  6. leaves — lets stay
  7. rule — a law
  8. charge — in control
  9. bass — low music
  10. leaves — to go away
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. spell — letters
  13. spell — magic
  14. ground — crushed
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. charge — electricity
  17. ground — a position
  18. cue — for pool
  19. rule — government
  20. cue — a hint
  21. charge — a price
  22. spell — a short time
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. bass — the fish

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