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 farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  2. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  3. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  4. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  5. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  6. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  7. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  8. She's very handy with a ________________.
  9. He works in a ________________ mill.
  10. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  11. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  12. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  13. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  14. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  15. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  16. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  17. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  18. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  19. The ________________ took off on time.
  20. It's one o'clock ________________.
  21. This piece is in a major ________________.
  22. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  23. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  24. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.

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

Answer key

  1. patient — calm and waiting
  2. key — the most important part
  3. patient — a sick person
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. leaves — to go away
  6. sharp — clever
  7. plane — a tool
  8. saw — the tool
  9. saw — the tool
  10. cue — a signal
  11. patient — a sick person
  12. mouse — for a computer
  13. sharp — with an edge
  14. plane — in geometry
  15. cue — for pool
  16. leaves — of a tree
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. key — for a lock
  19. plane — an aircraft
  20. sharp — exactly
  21. key — in music
  22. saw — past of 'see'
  23. cue — a hint
  24. leaves — lets stay

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