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: pitch · shower · stem · ruler · coach · wound · date · cue

  1. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  3. Have you settled on a ________________?
  4. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  5. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  6. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  7. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  8. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  9. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  10. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  11. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  12. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  13. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  14. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  15. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  16. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  17. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  18. Have you met the new head ________________?
  19. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  20. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  21. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  22. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  23. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  24. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. ruler — a monarch
  3. date — on the calendar
  4. shower — a meteor shower
  5. cue — a hint
  6. date — on the calendar
  7. wound — past of 'wind'
  8. pitch — completely
  9. stem — of a plant
  10. stem — a stem cell
  11. pitch — a sales talk
  12. wound — an injury
  13. cue — for pool
  14. shower — rain
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. pitch — a sports field
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. shower — to wash
  20. stem — to come from
  21. wound — an injury
  22. cue — a signal
  23. coach — pulled by horses
  24. date — the fruit

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