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: file · ground · snap · mug · key · deal · nail · cue

  1. There's no middle ________________.
  2. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  3. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  4. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  5. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  6. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  7. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  8. Where did you ________________ them?
  9. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  10. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  11. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  12. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  13. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  14. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  15. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  16. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  17. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  18. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  19. The ________________ went through the wall.
  20. This piece is in a major ________________.
  21. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  22. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  23. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  24. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ground — a position
  2. snap — to click
  3. snap — to snap out of it
  4. file — a document
  5. cue — for pool
  6. mug — a cup
  7. ground — the earth
  8. mug — to rob
  9. cue — a hint
  10. file — a line of people
  11. snap — to speak sharply
  12. cue — a signal
  13. deal — a big deal
  14. ground — crushed
  15. key — for a lock
  16. deal — to handle
  17. deal — an agreement
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. key — in music
  21. mug — a face
  22. nail — on a finger
  23. key — the most important part
  24. file — a tool

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