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: cue · temple · mug · deal · rush · saw · wax · season

  1. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  2. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  3. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  4. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  5. She's very handy with a ________________.
  6. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  7. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  8. Where did you ________________ them?
  9. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  10. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  11. Did you ________________ the meat?
  12. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  13. That must've been a ________________.
  14. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  15. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  16. When was this ________________ built?
  17. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  18. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  19. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  20. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  21. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  22. He works in a ________________ mill.
  23. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  24. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a signal
  2. rush — hurry
  3. wax — to grow
  4. wax — for sculpting
  5. saw — the tool
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. deal — to handle
  8. mug — to rob
  9. saw — past of 'see'
  10. mug — a face
  11. season — to add flavour
  12. deal — an agreement
  13. rush — a thrill
  14. mug — a cup
  15. cue — for pool
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. season — in sport
  18. deal — a big deal
  19. temple — side of the head
  20. cue — a hint
  21. rush — to hurry
  22. saw — the tool
  23. season — of the year
  24. wax — in the ear

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