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: coach · leaves · can · rest · cue · spring · wake · charge

  1. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  2. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  3. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  4. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  5. The tickets are free of ________________.
  6. Have you met the new head ________________?
  7. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  8. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  9. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  10. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  11. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  12. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  13. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  16. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  17. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  20. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  21. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  22. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. I'll take my ________________ from you.

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

Answer key

  1. rest — what's left
  2. wake — to stop sleeping
  3. wake — before a funeral
  4. rest — a break
  5. charge — a price
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. leaves — lets stay
  8. spring — a coil
  9. leaves — of a tree
  10. cue — for pool
  11. spring — of water
  12. leaves — to go away
  13. spring — the season
  14. can — a tin
  15. charge — electricity
  16. rest — what's left
  17. wake — a trail
  18. can — to be able to
  19. cue — a signal
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. coach — pulled by horses
  22. charge — in control
  23. can — a tin
  24. cue — a hint

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