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 coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  2. He works in a ________________ mill.
  3. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  4. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  5. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  6. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  7. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  8. We're almost out of ________________.
  9. When was this ________________ built?
  10. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  11. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  12. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  13. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  14. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  15. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  16. David sat on the ________________.
  17. She's very handy with a ________________.
  18. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  21. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  22. You don't need to ________________ round.
  23. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  24. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.

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

Answer key

  1. swing — in golf
  2. saw — the tool
  3. temple — side of the head
  4. hand — part of the body
  5. saw — past of 'see'
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. rock — music
  8. pop — soda
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. bark — of a tree
  11. cue — for pool
  12. cue — a signal
  13. bark — a dog's sound
  14. hand — help
  15. pop — music
  16. swing — to play on
  17. saw — the tool
  18. cue — a hint
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. bark — to shout
  21. rock — a stone
  22. pop — to visit
  23. hand — in cards
  24. swing — music

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