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. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  2. The King held a masked ________________.
  3. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  4. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  5. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  6. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  7. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  8. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  9. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  10. The ________________ went through the wall.
  11. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  12. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  13. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  14. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  15. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  16. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  17. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  18. That was ________________ to happen.
  19. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  20. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  21. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  22. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  23. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  24. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.

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

Answer key

  1. present — a gift
  2. ball — a dance
  3. squash — the sport
  4. nail — on a finger
  5. cue — for pool
  6. present — there
  7. ball — a round shape
  8. cue — a hint
  9. wave — with your hand
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. bound — tied together
  12. lash — a whip stroke
  13. squash — the vegetable
  14. ball — a great time
  15. lash — to lash out
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. cue — a signal
  18. bound — certain
  19. lash — an eyelash
  20. wave — of the sea
  21. bound — obliged
  22. squash — to crush
  23. present — the time now
  24. wave — a sudden rise

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