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 116 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. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  2. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  3. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  4. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  5. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  6. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  7. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  8. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  9. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  10. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  11. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  12. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  13. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  14. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  15. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  16. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  17. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  18. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  19. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  20. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  21. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  22. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  23. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  24. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — for pool
  2. cue — a signal
  3. shower — a meteor shower
  4. perch — for a bird
  5. current — happening now
  6. patient — a sick person
  7. track — a song
  8. bowl — to roll
  9. cue — a hint
  10. shower — to wash
  11. current — electric
  12. current — of water
  13. staff — employees
  14. staff — a stick
  15. track — to keep track
  16. track — a path
  17. patient — calm and waiting
  18. shower — rain
  19. perch — for a bird
  20. bowl — a football final
  21. staff — employees
  22. perch — the fish
  23. bowl — a dish
  24. patient — a sick person

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