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. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  4. Have you found your soul ________________?
  5. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  6. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  7. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  8. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  9. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  10. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  11. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  12. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  13. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  14. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  15. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  16. The ball is in your ________________.
  17. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  18. The ________________ went through the wall.
  19. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  20. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  21. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  22. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  23. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  24. When will it ________________ you to start?

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. fork — a garden tool
  4. mate — a partner
  5. suit — clothes
  6. cue — for pool
  7. court — of law
  8. mine — belonging to me
  9. nail — on a finger
  10. mate — a friend
  11. cue — a signal
  12. mine — for digging
  13. pass — a permit
  14. fork — in a road
  15. mine — an explosive
  16. court — for sport
  17. pass — to succeed
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. mate — to breed
  20. cue — a hint
  21. fork — to eat with
  22. suit — in cards
  23. court — of a king
  24. suit — to fit

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