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. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  2. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  3. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  4. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  5. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  6. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  7. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  8. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  9. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  10. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  11. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  12. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  13. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  14. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  15. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  16. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  17. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  18. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  19. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  20. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  21. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  22. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  23. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  24. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. spring — the season
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. cue — for pool
  4. mark — a trace
  5. spring — a coil
  6. squash — the sport
  7. spring — of water
  8. cue — a hint
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. object — to protest
  11. bowl — a football final
  12. object — an aim
  13. squash — the vegetable
  14. squash — to crush
  15. mark — a grade
  16. bank — for money
  17. bowl — to roll
  18. bank — for money
  19. bowl — a dish
  20. cue — a signal
  21. object — a thing
  22. mark — to pay attention
  23. mouse — for a computer
  24. bank — of a river

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