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: pitch · club · can · wax · arm · cue · rush · roll

  1. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  2. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  3. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  4. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  5. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  6. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  7. My father caught me by the ________________.
  8. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  9. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  10. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  11. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  12. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  15. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  19. We're on a ________________ here.
  20. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  21. That must've been a ________________.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  24. Take your time. There's no ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pitch — a sports field
  2. cue — a signal
  3. pitch — a sales talk
  4. wax — in the ear
  5. wax — to grow
  6. arm — part of the body
  7. arm — part of the body
  8. cue — for pool
  9. wax — for sculpting
  10. arm — a part of something
  11. cue — a hint
  12. club — for golf
  13. can — a tin
  14. roll — a cake
  15. club — a group
  16. can — a tin
  17. club — for dancing
  18. rush — to hurry
  19. roll — on a roll
  20. pitch — completely
  21. rush — a thrill
  22. can — to be able to
  23. roll — a list
  24. rush — hurry

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