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: court · march · date · cue · key · safe · stand · staff

  1. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  2. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  4. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  5. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  6. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  7. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  8. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  11. Have you settled on a ________________?
  12. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  13. This piece is in a major ________________.
  14. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  15. The ball is in your ________________.
  16. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  17. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  18. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  19. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  20. I can't ________________ this cold.
  21. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  22. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  23. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  24. He has no idea where the ________________ is.

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

Answer key

  1. march — the month
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. cue — a signal
  4. date — the fruit
  5. cue — a hint
  6. court — of law
  7. staff — employees
  8. key — the most important part
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. key — for a lock
  11. date — on the calendar
  12. stand — for spectators
  13. key — in music
  14. court — of a king
  15. court — for sport
  16. staff — employees
  17. date — on the calendar
  18. march — music
  19. cue — for pool
  20. stand — to bear
  21. staff — a stick
  22. march — the month
  23. stand — on your feet
  24. safe — a strongbox

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