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 120 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 · cue · bay · saw · branch · sharp · squash · calf

  1. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  2. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  3. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  4. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  5. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  6. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  7. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  8. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  9. He works in a ________________ mill.
  10. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  11. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  12. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  13. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  14. She's very handy with a ________________.
  15. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  16. My mare is ________________ in color.
  17. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  18. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  19. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  20. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  21. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  22. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  23. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  24. It's one o'clock ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. pitch — a sports field
  3. pitch — a sales talk
  4. bay — a part of the sea
  5. pitch — completely
  6. squash — the sport
  7. squash — to crush
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. saw — the tool
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. cue — a signal
  12. branch — of a bank
  13. branch — a division
  14. saw — the tool
  15. cue — for pool
  16. bay — a horse colour
  17. squash — the vegetable
  18. saw — past of 'see'
  19. cue — a hint
  20. sharp — clever
  21. calf — of the leg
  22. sharp — with an edge
  23. branch — of a tree
  24. sharp — exactly

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