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

Word bank: patient · key · coach · wave · cue · tube · lie · pitcher

  1. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  2. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  3. This piece is in a major ________________.
  4. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  5. He is an ace ________________.
  6. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  7. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  8. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  9. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  10. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  11. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  12. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  13. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  14. Have you met the new head ________________?
  15. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  16. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  17. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  18. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  19. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  20. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  21. I'll be taking the ________________.
  22. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  23. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  24. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — of the sea
  2. wave — with your hand
  3. key — in music
  4. patient — a sick person
  5. pitcher — in baseball
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. wave — a sudden rise
  8. patient — a sick person
  9. cue — for pool
  10. tube — in a tire
  11. key — the most important part
  12. key — for a lock
  13. cue — a signal
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. tube — a container
  16. patient — calm and waiting
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. coach — pulled by horses
  21. tube — the underground
  22. cue — a hint
  23. lie — to recline
  24. coach — a trainer

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