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. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  2. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  3. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  4. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  5. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  6. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  7. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. That was a fun ________________.
  10. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  11. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  12. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  13. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  14. The King held a masked ________________.
  15. The tickets are free of ________________.
  16. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  19. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  20. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  21. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  22. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  23. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  24. ________________ you help me carry this box?

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

Answer key

  1. charge — electricity
  2. pitch — a sales talk
  3. game — a kind of play
  4. game — wild animals
  5. ball — a great time
  6. stem — a stem cell
  7. cue — a hint
  8. can — a tin
  9. game — a match
  10. rock — music
  11. pitch — a sports field
  12. cue — a signal
  13. pitch — completely
  14. ball — a dance
  15. charge — a price
  16. cue — for pool
  17. can — a tin
  18. ball — a round shape
  19. stem — of a plant
  20. rock — a stone
  21. rock — to move gently
  22. stem — to come from
  23. charge — in control
  24. can — to be able to

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