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: pitcher · cue · saw · kick · stem · press · rush · last

  1. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  2. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  3. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  4. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  5. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  6. He works in a ________________ mill.
  7. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  8. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  9. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  10. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  11. Did you ________________ the button?
  12. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  13. That must've been a ________________.
  14. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  15. False peace will not ________________.
  16. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  17. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  18. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  19. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  20. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  21. He is an ace ________________.
  22. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  23. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  24. She's very handy with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — for pool
  2. rush — to hurry
  3. stem — of a plant
  4. press — a publisher
  5. stem — to come from
  6. saw — the tool
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. stem — a stem cell
  9. last — finally
  10. saw — past of 'see'
  11. press — to push
  12. cue — a hint
  13. rush — a thrill
  14. press — newspapers
  15. last — to go on
  16. rush — hurry
  17. kick — in football
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. last — final
  20. kick — with a leg
  21. pitcher — in baseball
  22. kick — a thrill
  23. cue — a signal
  24. saw — the tool

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