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: cabinet · wound · deal · cue · craft · mate · rock · swing

  1. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  2. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  3. David sat on the ________________.
  4. Have you found your soul ________________?
  5. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  6. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  7. What do you think of the new ________________?
  8. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  9. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  10. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  11. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  12. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  13. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  14. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  15. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  16. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  17. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  18. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  19. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  20. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  21. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  22. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  23. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  24. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.

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

Answer key

  1. mate — to breed
  2. craft — a handicraft
  3. swing — to play on
  4. mate — a partner
  5. swing — music
  6. cue — a hint
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. rock — music
  9. deal — to handle
  10. craft — boats
  11. deal — an agreement
  12. craft — a skill
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. deal — a big deal
  15. wound — an injury
  16. rock — to move gently
  17. cabinet — a cupboard
  18. wound — an injury
  19. rock — a stone
  20. mate — a friend
  21. cue — a signal
  22. wound — past of 'wind'
  23. cue — for pool
  24. swing — in golf

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