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: rush · chip · saw · band · stand · cue · arm · can

  1. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  4. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  5. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  6. My father caught me by the ________________.
  7. That must've been a ________________.
  8. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  9. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  10. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  11. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  12. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  13. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  14. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  15. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. He works in a ________________ mill.
  18. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  19. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  20. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  21. She's very handy with a ________________.
  22. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  23. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  24. I can't ________________ this cold.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. can — to be able to
  3. band — a music group
  4. arm — part of the body
  5. stand — for spectators
  6. arm — part of the body
  7. rush — a thrill
  8. band — a rubber band
  9. cue — a signal
  10. cue — for pool
  11. chip — for betting
  12. saw — past of 'see'
  13. arm — a part of something
  14. cue — a hint
  15. rush — hurry
  16. can — a tin
  17. saw — the tool
  18. stand — on your feet
  19. band — a ring
  20. rush — to hurry
  21. saw — the tool
  22. chip — to eat
  23. chip — in a computer
  24. stand — to bear

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