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: board · mug · clip · cue · lie · object · jam · pop

  1. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  2. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  3. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  4. You don't need to ________________ round.
  5. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  6. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  7. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  8. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  9. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  10. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  11. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  12. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  13. We're almost out of ________________.
  14. Where did you ________________ them?
  15. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  16. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  17. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  18. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  19. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  20. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  21. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  22. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  23. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a cup
  2. jam — to spread on bread
  3. pop — music
  4. pop — to visit
  5. jam — in traffic
  6. board — a flat piece
  7. object — a thing
  8. lie — to recline
  9. board — to get on
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. jam — a tight spot
  12. object — to protest
  13. pop — soda
  14. mug — to rob
  15. cue — a signal
  16. clip — to cut
  17. object — an aim
  18. clip — for paper
  19. clip — a video
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. board — a committee
  22. cue — for pool
  23. cue — a hint
  24. mug — a face

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