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 hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  2. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  3. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  4. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  5. Have you met the new head ________________?
  6. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  7. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  8. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  9. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  10. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  11. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  12. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  13. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  14. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  15. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  16. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  17. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  18. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  19. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  20. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  21. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  22. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  23. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  24. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — to recline
  2. cue — for pool
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. bat — for baseball
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. leaves — lets stay
  7. toast — bread
  8. cue — a hint
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. toast — a drink to someone
  11. cue — a signal
  12. perch — for a bird
  13. bat — in an idiom
  14. leaves — of a tree
  15. bowl — a football final
  16. perch — for a bird
  17. leaves — to go away
  18. toast — the most admired
  19. bowl — to roll
  20. perch — the fish
  21. bat — the animal
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. coach — pulled by horses
  24. bowl — a dish

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