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. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  2. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  3. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  4. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  5. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  6. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  7. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  8. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  9. He is an ace ________________.
  10. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  11. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  12. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  13. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  14. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  15. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  16. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  17. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  18. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  19. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  20. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  21. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  22. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  23. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  24. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.

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

Answer key

  1. face — to point toward
  2. rest — a break
  3. lash — to lash out
  4. lash — an eyelash
  5. cue — for pool
  6. lash — a whip stroke
  7. face — to confront
  8. pitch — completely
  9. pitcher — in baseball
  10. bass — the fish
  11. bass — the instrument
  12. cue — a signal
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. face — part of the head
  16. cue — a hint
  17. rest — what's left
  18. pitch — a sports field
  19. pitch — a sales talk
  20. toast — the most admired
  21. toast — a drink to someone
  22. bass — low music
  23. toast — bread
  24. rest — what's left

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