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: season · face · file · racket · bore · rush · bound · cue

  1. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  2. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  3. Did you ________________ the meat?
  4. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  5. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  6. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  7. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  8. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  9. That was ________________ to happen.
  10. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  11. That must've been a ________________.
  12. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  13. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  14. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  15. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  16. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  17. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  18. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  19. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  20. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  21. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  22. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  23. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  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. bore — to tire
  2. cue — for pool
  3. season — to add flavour
  4. bore — gave birth
  5. rush — to hurry
  6. bound — tied together
  7. file — a document
  8. season — of the year
  9. bound — certain
  10. season — in sport
  11. rush — a thrill
  12. face — to confront
  13. racket — a loud noise
  14. cue — a signal
  15. racket — for tennis
  16. file — a line of people
  17. bore — to drill
  18. face — part of the head
  19. cue — a hint
  20. bound — obliged
  21. face — to point toward
  22. file — a tool
  23. racket — for tennis
  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