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. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  2. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  3. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  4. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  5. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  6. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  7. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  8. He works in a ________________ mill.
  9. The ________________ took off on time.
  10. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  11. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  12. Have you met the new head ________________?
  13. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  14. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  15. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  16. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  17. That must've been a ________________.
  18. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  19. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  20. She's very handy with a ________________.
  21. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  22. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  23. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  24. The ________________ went through the wall.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. dip — to dunk
  4. dip — to sink
  5. pit — in a race
  6. cue — a signal
  7. saw — past of 'see'
  8. saw — the tool
  9. plane — an aircraft
  10. plane — a tool
  11. cue — a hint
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. nail — on a finger
  14. rush — hurry
  15. cue — for pool
  16. pit — a fruit stone
  17. rush — a thrill
  18. plane — in geometry
  19. rush — to hurry
  20. saw — the tool
  21. pit — a hole
  22. dip — a sauce
  23. coach — pulled by horses
  24. nail — for a hammer

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