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 116 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: suit · fan · deal · face · lie · pitch · band · cue

  1. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  2. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  3. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  4. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  5. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  6. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  7. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  8. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  9. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  10. When will it ________________ you to start?
  11. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  12. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  13. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  14. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  15. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  16. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  17. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  18. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  19. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  20. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  21. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  22. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  23. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  24. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — in cards
  2. deal — to handle
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. cue — for pool
  5. deal — an agreement
  6. lie — to recline
  7. deal — a big deal
  8. pitch — completely
  9. face — part of the head
  10. suit — to fit
  11. band — a ring
  12. pitch — a sports field
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. fan — to cool the air
  15. pitch — a sales talk
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. band — a music group
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. suit — clothes
  20. cue — a signal
  21. cue — a hint
  22. face — to point toward
  23. face — to confront
  24. band — a rubber band

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