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. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  2. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  3. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  4. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  5. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  6. We're on a ________________ here.
  7. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  8. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  9. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  10. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  11. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  12. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  13. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  14. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  15. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  16. The ________________ market has crashed.
  17. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  18. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  19. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  20. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  21. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  22. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  23. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  24. The ________________ took off on time.

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

Answer key

  1. roll — a cake
  2. pitch — completely
  3. cue — a signal
  4. stock — goods
  5. mark — a grade
  6. roll — on a roll
  7. bass — the instrument
  8. cue — a hint
  9. leaves — to go away
  10. roll — a list
  11. leaves — lets stay
  12. mark — to pay attention
  13. plane — a tool
  14. cue — for pool
  15. plane — in geometry
  16. stock — shares
  17. mark — a trace
  18. stock — a soup base
  19. pitch — a sales talk
  20. leaves — of a tree
  21. pitch — a sports field
  22. bass — low music
  23. bass — the fish
  24. plane — an aircraft

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