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 120 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. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  2. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  3. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  4. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  5. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  6. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  9. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  10. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  11. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  14. Did you ________________ the button?
  15. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  16. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  17. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  18. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  21. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  22. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  23. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  24. I'll take my ________________ from you.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — part of the body
  2. bass — the fish
  3. cue — a signal
  4. lie — to recline
  5. bass — the instrument
  6. bass — low music
  7. can — to be able to
  8. bear — the animal
  9. cue — for pool
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. can — a tin
  13. file — a line of people
  14. press — to push
  15. bear — the animal
  16. press — newspapers
  17. foot — the bottom
  18. file — a tool
  19. can — a tin
  20. file — a document
  21. foot — a measure
  22. press — a publisher
  23. bear — to put up with
  24. cue — a hint

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