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: chair · bound · mark · date · face · cue · nail · fine

  1. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  2. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  3. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  4. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  5. That was ________________ to happen.
  6. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  7. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  8. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  9. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  10. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  11. The ________________ went through the wall.
  12. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  13. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  14. Have you settled on a ________________?
  15. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  16. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  17. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  18. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  19. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  20. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  21. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  22. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  23. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  24. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a trace
  2. date — the fruit
  3. nail — on a finger
  4. bound — obliged
  5. bound — certain
  6. face — part of the head
  7. date — on the calendar
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. cue — a hint
  10. bound — tied together
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. chair — a leader
  13. cue — a signal
  14. date — on the calendar
  15. fine — high quality
  16. face — to confront
  17. fine — all right
  18. mark — a grade
  19. fine — a penalty
  20. mark — to pay attention
  21. chair — to sit on
  22. cue — for pool
  23. face — to point toward
  24. chair — a professorship

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