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: arm · patient · field · coach · cue · ruler · pitch · staff

  1. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  2. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  3. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  4. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  5. Have you met the new head ________________?
  6. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  7. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  8. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  9. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  10. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  11. My father caught me by the ________________.
  12. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  13. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  14. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  15. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  16. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  17. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  18. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  19. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  20. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  21. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  22. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  23. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  24. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — a stick
  2. patient — calm and waiting
  3. cue — a hint
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. field — a subject
  8. field — for sport
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. cue — for pool
  11. arm — part of the body
  12. pitch — completely
  13. arm — part of the body
  14. field — farmland
  15. ruler — a monarch
  16. staff — employees
  17. staff — employees
  18. arm — a part of something
  19. coach — pulled by horses
  20. pitch — a sports field
  21. pitch — a sales talk
  22. patient — a sick person
  23. cue — a signal
  24. patient — a sick person

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