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: hand · arm · key · trunk · bear · charge · pitch · cue

  1. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  2. The tickets are free of ________________.
  3. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  4. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  5. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  6. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  7. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  8. My father caught me by the ________________.
  9. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  10. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  11. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  12. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  13. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  14. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  15. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  16. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  17. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  18. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  19. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  20. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  21. This piece is in a major ________________.
  22. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  23. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  24. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. hand — part of the body
  2. charge — a price
  3. cue — for pool
  4. bear — the animal
  5. trunk — of an elephant
  6. trunk — of a car
  7. pitch — completely
  8. arm — part of the body
  9. bear — to put up with
  10. hand — help
  11. charge — electricity
  12. charge — in control
  13. key — the most important part
  14. pitch — a sales talk
  15. arm — part of the body
  16. arm — a part of something
  17. cue — a hint
  18. cue — a signal
  19. key — for a lock
  20. hand — in cards
  21. key — in music
  22. pitch — a sports field
  23. trunk — of a tree
  24. bear — the animal

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