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: can · charge · mark · trunk · saw · roll · cue · arm

  1. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  2. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  3. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  6. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  7. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  8. She's very handy with a ________________.
  9. My father caught me by the ________________.
  10. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  11. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  12. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  13. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  14. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  15. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  16. He works in a ________________ mill.
  17. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  20. The tickets are free of ________________.
  21. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. We're on a ________________ here.
  24. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a signal
  2. trunk — of a tree
  3. mark — to pay attention
  4. can — a tin
  5. arm — part of the body
  6. mark — a grade
  7. roll — a list
  8. saw — the tool
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. arm — a part of something
  11. trunk — of an elephant
  12. trunk — of a car
  13. cue — a hint
  14. cue — for pool
  15. roll — a cake
  16. saw — the tool
  17. charge — in control
  18. can — a tin
  19. mark — a trace
  20. charge — a price
  21. charge — electricity
  22. can — to be able to
  23. roll — on a roll
  24. saw — past of 'see'

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