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: pitch · clip · saw · coach · tube · bound · temple · charge

  1. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  2. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  3. She's very handy with a ________________.
  4. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  5. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  6. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  7. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  8. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  9. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  10. Have you met the new head ________________?
  11. I'll be taking the ________________.
  12. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  13. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  14. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  15. He works in a ________________ mill.
  16. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  17. The tickets are free of ________________.
  18. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  19. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  20. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  21. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  22. When was this ________________ built?
  23. That was ________________ to happen.
  24. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.

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

Answer key

  1. pitch — completely
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. saw — the tool
  4. clip — for paper
  5. bound — tied together
  6. clip — to cut
  7. pitch — a sales talk
  8. charge — electricity
  9. saw — past of 'see'
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. tube — the underground
  12. bound — obliged
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. pitch — a sports field
  15. saw — the tool
  16. clip — a video
  17. charge — a price
  18. tube — a container
  19. tube — in a tire
  20. coach — pulled by horses
  21. temple — side of the head
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. bound — certain
  24. charge — in control

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