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. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  4. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  5. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  6. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  7. When will it ________________ you to start?
  8. Did you ________________ the button?
  9. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  10. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  11. I can't ________________ this cold.
  12. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  13. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  14. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  15. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  16. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  17. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  18. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  19. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  20. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  21. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  22. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  23. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  24. The ________________ went through the wall.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a signal
  2. press — newspapers
  3. cue — for pool
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. field — a subject
  6. field — farmland
  7. suit — to fit
  8. press — to push
  9. fine — high quality
  10. fine — all right
  11. stand — to bear
  12. march — music
  13. march — the month
  14. suit — in cards
  15. nail — on a finger
  16. stand — for spectators
  17. march — the month
  18. press — a publisher
  19. suit — clothes
  20. field — for sport
  21. stand — on your feet
  22. cue — a hint
  23. fine — a penalty
  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