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: cabinet · nail · roll · jam · swing · racket · cue · foot

  1. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  2. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  3. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  4. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  5. What do you think of the new ________________?
  6. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  7. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  8. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  9. We're on a ________________ here.
  10. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  11. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  12. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  13. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  14. David sat on the ________________.
  15. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  16. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  17. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  18. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  19. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  20. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  21. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  22. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  23. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  24. The ________________ went through the wall.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. jam — in traffic
  3. cue — a signal
  4. roll — a list
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. roll — a cake
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. racket — a loud noise
  9. roll — on a roll
  10. cue — a hint
  11. nail — on a finger
  12. racket — for tennis
  13. racket — for tennis
  14. swing — to play on
  15. jam — to spread on bread
  16. cue — for pool
  17. swing — music
  18. jam — a tight spot
  19. foot — a measure
  20. cabinet — a cupboard
  21. foot — the bottom
  22. foot — part of the body
  23. swing — in golf
  24. nail — for a hammer

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