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 from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: leaves · bore · charge · coach · cue · roll · ball · toast

  1. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  2. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  4. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  5. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  6. Have you met the new head ________________?
  7. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  8. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  9. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  10. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  11. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  12. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  13. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  14. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  15. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  16. The King held a masked ________________.
  17. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  18. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  19. The tickets are free of ________________.
  20. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  21. We're on a ________________ here.
  22. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  23. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  24. I'll take my ________________ from you.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a round shape
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. roll — a list
  4. toast — the most admired
  5. cue — a signal
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. leaves — to go away
  8. roll — a cake
  9. bore — to drill
  10. toast — bread
  11. coach — pulled by horses
  12. bore — to tire
  13. cue — for pool
  14. charge — electricity
  15. ball — a great time
  16. ball — a dance
  17. bore — gave birth
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. charge — a price
  20. toast — a drink to someone
  21. roll — on a roll
  22. leaves — lets stay
  23. charge — in control
  24. cue — a hint

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