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 120 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. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  2. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  3. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  4. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  5. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  6. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  7. This piece is in a major ________________.
  8. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  9. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  10. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  15. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  16. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  17. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  18. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  19. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  20. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  23. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  24. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. clip — for paper
  2. clip — to cut
  3. cue — a signal
  4. hide — to keep secret
  5. key — for a lock
  6. cue — for pool
  7. key — in music
  8. firm — a company
  9. trunk — of a tree
  10. file — a document
  11. can — a tin
  12. trunk — of a car
  13. can — to be able to
  14. firm — decided
  15. file — a line of people
  16. trunk — of an elephant
  17. key — the most important part
  18. firm — steady
  19. cue — a hint
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. can — a tin
  22. clip — a video
  23. hide — animal skin
  24. file — a tool

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