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: roll · dip · tube · cue · clip · stem · leaves · pitch

  1. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  2. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  3. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  4. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  5. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  6. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  7. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  8. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  9. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  10. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  11. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  12. We're on a ________________ here.
  13. I'll be taking the ________________.
  14. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  15. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  16. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  17. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  18. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  19. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  20. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  21. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  22. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  23. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  24. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — a sauce
  2. clip — for paper
  3. tube — a container
  4. leaves — lets stay
  5. cue — for pool
  6. pitch — a sports field
  7. tube — in a tire
  8. dip — to dunk
  9. leaves — to go away
  10. leaves — of a tree
  11. roll — a cake
  12. roll — on a roll
  13. tube — the underground
  14. pitch — completely
  15. dip — to sink
  16. clip — to cut
  17. stem — of a plant
  18. pitch — a sales talk
  19. roll — a list
  20. cue — a signal
  21. clip — a video
  22. cue — a hint
  23. stem — to come from
  24. stem — a stem cell

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