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: mark · cabinet · cue · file · coach · tube · bulb · date

  1. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  2. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  3. Have you settled on a ________________?
  4. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  5. What do you think of the new ________________?
  6. I'll be taking the ________________.
  7. The light ________________ burned out.
  8. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  9. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  10. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  11. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  12. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  13. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  14. I've got to change the light ________________.
  15. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  16. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  17. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  18. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  19. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  20. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  21. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  22. Have you met the new head ________________?
  23. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  24. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?

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

Answer key

  1. mark — to pay attention
  2. tube — a container
  3. date — on the calendar
  4. mark — a grade
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. tube — the underground
  7. bulb — for light
  8. date — on the calendar
  9. cabinet — a cupboard
  10. file — a tool
  11. bulb — of a plant
  12. file — a line of people
  13. tube — in a tire
  14. bulb — for light
  15. mark — a trace
  16. cue — for pool
  17. cue — a signal
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. file — a document
  21. date — the fruit
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. cue — a hint
  24. coach — pulled by horses

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