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. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  2. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  3. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  4. My father caught me by the ________________.
  5. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  6. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  7. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  8. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  9. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  10. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  11. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  12. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  13. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  14. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  15. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  16. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  17. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  18. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  19. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  20. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  21. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  22. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  23. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  24. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.

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

Answer key

  1. arm — a part of something
  2. toast — bread
  3. cue — a signal
  4. arm — part of the body
  5. toast — the most admired
  6. lash — a whip stroke
  7. arm — part of the body
  8. hide — to keep secret
  9. club — for golf
  10. board — a committee
  11. club — a group
  12. lash — to lash out
  13. hide — animal skin
  14. lash — an eyelash
  15. club — for dancing
  16. chair — a professorship
  17. chair — a leader
  18. cue — a hint
  19. hide — to keep secret
  20. board — a flat piece
  21. toast — a drink to someone
  22. chair — to sit on
  23. board — to get on
  24. cue — for pool

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