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 · degree · pitcher · ball · lash · pitch · dip · tube

  1. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  2. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  3. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  4. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  5. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  6. He is an ace ________________.
  7. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  8. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  9. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  10. I'll be taking the ________________.
  11. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  12. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  13. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  14. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  15. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  16. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  17. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  18. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  19. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  20. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  21. The King held a masked ________________.
  22. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  23. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  24. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.

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

Answer key

  1. tube — a container
  2. ball — a great time
  3. lash — to lash out
  4. pitch — completely
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. pitcher — in baseball
  7. dip — to sink
  8. ball — a round shape
  9. cue — a signal
  10. tube — the underground
  11. degree — an amount
  12. cue — for pool
  13. degree — from a university
  14. tube — in a tire
  15. pitch — a sports field
  16. degree — temperature
  17. dip — a sauce
  18. lash — an eyelash
  19. lash — a whip stroke
  20. dip — to dunk
  21. ball — a dance
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. cue — a hint
  24. pitch — a sales talk

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