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 120 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: mark · cue · squash · coach · cabinet · current · last · track

  1. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  2. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  3. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  4. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  5. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  6. False peace will not ________________.
  7. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  8. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  9. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  10. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  11. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  12. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  13. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  14. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  15. What do you think of the new ________________?
  16. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  17. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  18. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  19. Have you met the new head ________________?
  20. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  21. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  22. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  23. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  24. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.

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

Answer key

  1. track — to keep track
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. last — finally
  5. current — of water
  6. last — to go on
  7. track — a song
  8. squash — to crush
  9. mark — a grade
  10. mark — a trace
  11. coach — pulled by horses
  12. cue — for pool
  13. cabinet — a cupboard
  14. track — a path
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. last — final
  17. squash — the sport
  18. cue — a hint
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. current — electric
  21. mark — to pay attention
  22. cue — a signal
  23. squash — the vegetable
  24. current — happening now

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