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: net · hide · cue · sharp · staff · scale · pitch · safe

  1. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  2. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  3. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  4. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  7. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  8. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  9. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  10. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  11. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  14. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  15. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  16. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  17. It's one o'clock ________________.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  20. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  21. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  22. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  23. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  24. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.

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

Answer key

  1. net — in sport
  2. hide — to keep secret
  3. net — for catching
  4. sharp — clever
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. scale — size or range
  7. staff — employees
  8. cue — a hint
  9. hide — animal skin
  10. pitch — a sports field
  11. hide — to keep secret
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. sharp — with an edge
  14. pitch — completely
  15. cue — a signal
  16. staff — a stick
  17. sharp — exactly
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. staff — employees
  20. scale — in music
  21. cue — for pool
  22. pitch — a sales talk
  23. net — after costs
  24. scale — for weighing

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