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. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  2. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  3. Have you met the new head ________________?
  4. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  5. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  6. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  7. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  8. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  9. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  10. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  11. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  12. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  13. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  14. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  15. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  16. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  17. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  18. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  19. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  20. I can't ________________ this cold.
  21. The ________________ went through the wall.
  22. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  23. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  24. The King held a masked ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lean — to rest against
  2. ball — a great time
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. track — to keep track
  5. lean — thin
  6. track — a song
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. stand — on your feet
  10. cue — a signal
  11. cue — a hint
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. track — a path
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. fan — to cool the air
  16. lean — to bend
  17. nail — on a finger
  18. coach — pulled by horses
  19. cue — for pool
  20. stand — to bear
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. ball — a round shape
  23. stand — for spectators
  24. ball — a dance

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