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: clip · net · deal · cue · march · foot · wax · board

  1. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  2. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  3. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  4. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  5. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  6. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  7. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  8. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  9. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  10. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  11. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  12. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  13. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  14. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  15. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  16. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  17. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  18. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  19. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  20. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  21. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  22. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  23. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  24. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.

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

Answer key

  1. march — music
  2. board — to get on
  3. deal — to handle
  4. foot — the bottom
  5. cue — a signal
  6. net — in sport
  7. march — the month
  8. board — a flat piece
  9. deal — an agreement
  10. cue — a hint
  11. net — after costs
  12. net — for catching
  13. wax — in the ear
  14. foot — a measure
  15. clip — to cut
  16. march — the month
  17. wax — for sculpting
  18. clip — for paper
  19. clip — a video
  20. cue — for pool
  21. wax — to grow
  22. foot — part of the body
  23. board — a committee
  24. deal — a big deal

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