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: content · cabinet · net · squash · track · cue · toast · dip

  1. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  2. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  3. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  4. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  5. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  6. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  7. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  8. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  9. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  10. What do you think of the new ________________?
  11. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  12. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  13. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  14. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  15. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  16. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  17. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  18. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  19. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  20. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  21. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  22. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  23. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  24. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.

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

Answer key

  1. net — in sport
  2. squash — the sport
  3. track — a song
  4. dip — a sauce
  5. cabinet — a cupboard
  6. toast — a drink to someone
  7. track — a path
  8. toast — the most admired
  9. content — videos and posts
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. track — to keep track
  12. dip — to sink
  13. net — for catching
  14. squash — to crush
  15. dip — to dunk
  16. content — the amount
  17. cue — a hint
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. cue — a signal
  20. cue — for pool
  21. squash — the vegetable
  22. content — happy
  23. net — after costs
  24. toast — bread

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