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: suit · field · fan · bore · bark · can · cue · scale

  1. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  4. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  5. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  6. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  7. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  10. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  11. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  12. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  13. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  14. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  15. When will it ________________ you to start?
  16. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  17. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  18. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  19. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  20. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  21. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  24. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?

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

Answer key

  1. field — a subject
  2. can — to be able to
  3. bark — of a tree
  4. scale — in music
  5. bore — to drill
  6. field — for sport
  7. bark — to shout
  8. can — a tin
  9. scale — for weighing
  10. bark — a dog's sound
  11. bore — gave birth
  12. cue — a signal
  13. suit — clothes
  14. fan — to cool the air
  15. suit — to fit
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. scale — size or range
  18. field — farmland
  19. cue — a hint
  20. bore — to tire
  21. suit — in cards
  22. can — a tin
  23. cue — for pool
  24. fan — a supporter

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