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: cue · fan · dip · bay · arm · saw · rule · bank

  1. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  2. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  3. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  4. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  5. My mare is ________________ in color.
  6. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  7. He works in a ________________ mill.
  8. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  9. She's very handy with a ________________.
  10. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  11. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  12. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  13. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  14. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  15. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  16. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  17. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  18. My father caught me by the ________________.
  19. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  20. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  21. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  22. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  23. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  24. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. bank — of a river
  3. rule — government
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. bay — a horse colour
  6. cue — a signal
  7. saw — the tool
  8. arm — part of the body
  9. saw — the tool
  10. dip — to dunk
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. arm — a part of something
  13. rule — to rule out
  14. cue — a hint
  15. dip — a sauce
  16. bank — for money
  17. bank — for money
  18. arm — part of the body
  19. saw — past of 'see'
  20. cue — for pool
  21. dip — to sink
  22. fan — to cool the air
  23. bay — a part of the sea
  24. rule — a law

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