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: jam · cue · hide · ruler · coach · saw · charge · fork

  1. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  2. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  3. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  4. Have you met the new head ________________?
  5. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  6. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  7. He works in a ________________ mill.
  8. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  9. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  10. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  11. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  12. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  13. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  14. The tickets are free of ________________.
  15. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  16. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  17. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  18. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  19. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  20. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  21. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  22. She's very handy with a ________________.
  23. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  24. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — electricity
  2. saw — past of 'see'
  3. hide — to keep secret
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. fork — to eat with
  6. coach — pulled by horses
  7. saw — the tool
  8. fork — in a road
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. cue — a signal
  12. jam — in traffic
  13. fork — a garden tool
  14. charge — a price
  15. hide — animal skin
  16. cue — for pool
  17. charge — in control
  18. jam — to spread on bread
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. ruler — a monarch
  21. jam — a tight spot
  22. saw — the tool
  23. cue — a hint
  24. coach — a trainer

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