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 116 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 · bulb · saw · net · mug · field · staff · stand

  1. The light ________________ burned out.
  2. I've got to change the light ________________.
  3. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  4. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  5. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  6. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  7. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  8. Where did you ________________ them?
  9. He works in a ________________ mill.
  10. She's very handy with a ________________.
  11. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  12. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  13. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  14. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  15. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  16. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  17. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  18. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  19. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  20. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  21. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  22. I can't ________________ this cold.
  23. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  24. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. bulb — for light
  3. net — for catching
  4. mug — a face
  5. staff — a stick
  6. saw — past of 'see'
  7. bulb — of a plant
  8. mug — to rob
  9. saw — the tool
  10. saw — the tool
  11. staff — employees
  12. cue — a hint
  13. cue — for pool
  14. net — in sport
  15. cue — a signal
  16. stand — for spectators
  17. net — after costs
  18. field — farmland
  19. stand — on your feet
  20. mug — a cup
  21. field — for sport
  22. stand — to bear
  23. staff — employees
  24. field — a subject

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