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: cap · key · bound · pitcher · patient · cue · jam · mate

  1. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  2. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  3. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  4. This piece is in a major ________________.
  5. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  6. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  7. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  8. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  9. He is an ace ________________.
  10. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  11. Have you found your soul ________________?
  12. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  13. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  14. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  15. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  16. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  17. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  18. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  19. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  20. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  21. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  22. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  23. That was ________________ to happen.
  24. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — a jug
  2. patient — calm and waiting
  3. cap — of ice
  4. key — in music
  5. key — for a lock
  6. patient — a sick person
  7. cue — a signal
  8. jam — to spread on bread
  9. pitcher — in baseball
  10. key — the most important part
  11. mate — a partner
  12. cap — a lid
  13. jam — in traffic
  14. cue — a hint
  15. bound — tied together
  16. jam — a tight spot
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. mate — to breed
  19. cue — for pool
  20. mate — a friend
  21. bound — obliged
  22. patient — a sick person
  23. bound — certain
  24. cap — a hat

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