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: vault · stem · jam · rock · racket · lash · date · cue

  1. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  2. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  3. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  4. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  5. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  6. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  7. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  8. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  9. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  10. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  11. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  12. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  13. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  14. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  15. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  16. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  17. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  18. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  19. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  20. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  21. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  22. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  23. Have you settled on a ________________?
  24. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — to move gently
  2. date — on the calendar
  3. rock — music
  4. cue — for pool
  5. vault — a safe
  6. date — the fruit
  7. jam — in traffic
  8. stem — of a plant
  9. lash — to lash out
  10. jam — to spread on bread
  11. rock — a stone
  12. cue — a hint
  13. stem — to come from
  14. lash — an eyelash
  15. racket — for tennis
  16. vault — in gymnastics
  17. racket — for tennis
  18. vault — an arched ceiling
  19. jam — a tight spot
  20. cue — a signal
  21. lash — a whip stroke
  22. stem — a stem cell
  23. date — on the calendar
  24. racket — a loud noise

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