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: rush · prune · cap · spell · stand · pitch · cue · swing

  1. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  2. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  3. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  4. How do you ________________ your surname?
  5. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  6. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  7. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  8. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  9. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  10. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  11. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  12. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  13. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  14. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  15. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  16. That must've been a ________________.
  17. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  18. I can't ________________ this cold.
  19. David sat on the ________________.
  20. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  21. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  22. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  23. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  24. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.

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

Answer key

  1. pitch — completely
  2. spell — magic
  3. cap — of ice
  4. spell — letters
  5. pitch — a sales talk
  6. rush — to hurry
  7. pitch — a sports field
  8. cap — a hat
  9. stand — for spectators
  10. swing — in golf
  11. prune — to trim
  12. cue — for pool
  13. rush — hurry
  14. spell — a short time
  15. cue — a signal
  16. rush — a thrill
  17. swing — music
  18. stand — to bear
  19. swing — to play on
  20. prune — the fruit
  21. cap — a lid
  22. stand — on your feet
  23. cue — a hint
  24. prune — to trim

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