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. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  2. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  3. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  4. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  5. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  6. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  7. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  8. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  9. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  10. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  11. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  12. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  13. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  14. That must've been a ________________.
  15. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  16. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  17. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  18. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  19. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  20. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  21. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  22. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  23. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  24. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a signal
  2. firm — a company
  3. rush — hurry
  4. jam — in traffic
  5. lean — to bend
  6. branch — a division
  7. lean — to rest against
  8. racket — for tennis
  9. cue — for pool
  10. racket — a loud noise
  11. racket — for tennis
  12. firm — decided
  13. lean — thin
  14. rush — a thrill
  15. branch — of a tree
  16. spring — a coil
  17. rush — to hurry
  18. cue — a hint
  19. jam — a tight spot
  20. firm — steady
  21. jam — to spread on bread
  22. spring — the season
  23. branch — of a bank
  24. spring — of water

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