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'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  2. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  3. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  4. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  5. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  6. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  7. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  8. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. My father caught me by the ________________.
  11. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  12. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  13. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  14. The ________________ went through the wall.
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. That must've been a ________________.
  17. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  20. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  21. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  22. There's no middle ________________.
  23. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  24. Add some ________________ pepper to it.

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

Answer key

  1. arm — part of the body
  2. ground — the earth
  3. cue — for pool
  4. cue — a hint
  5. rush — to hurry
  6. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  7. arm — a part of something
  8. nail — on a finger
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. arm — part of the body
  11. spring — the season
  12. kid — child
  13. cue — a signal
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. rush — a thrill
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. rush — hurry
  20. spring — a coil
  21. spring — of water
  22. ground — a position
  23. kid — to tease
  24. ground — crushed

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