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: cabinet · jam · sharp · cap · nail · ground · shower · cue

  1. What do you think of the new ________________?
  2. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  3. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  4. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  5. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  6. It's one o'clock ________________.
  7. The ________________ went through the wall.
  8. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  9. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  10. There's no middle ________________.
  11. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  12. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  13. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  14. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  15. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  16. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  17. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  18. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  19. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  20. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  21. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  22. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  23. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  24. This knife is not ________________ enough.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. ground — the earth
  3. jam — a tight spot
  4. shower — to wash
  5. shower — a meteor shower
  6. sharp — exactly
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. sharp — clever
  9. shower — rain
  10. ground — a position
  11. cue — a hint
  12. jam — to spread on bread
  13. cue — for pool
  14. jam — in traffic
  15. cabinet — a cupboard
  16. cap — a hat
  17. nail — on a finger
  18. cap — of ice
  19. cap — a lid
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. cue — a signal
  23. ground — crushed
  24. sharp — with an edge

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