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 · racket · track · bat · leaves · lie · cue · net

  1. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  2. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  3. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  4. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  5. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  6. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  7. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  8. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  9. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  10. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  11. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  12. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  13. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  14. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  15. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  16. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  17. My father caught me by the ________________.
  18. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  19. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  20. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  21. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  22. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  23. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  24. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — for pool
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. bat — the animal
  4. track — a song
  5. bat — in an idiom
  6. leaves — lets stay
  7. racket — for tennis
  8. arm — part of the body
  9. net — after costs
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. racket — a loud noise
  12. lie — to recline
  13. leaves — of a tree
  14. cue — a signal
  15. bat — for baseball
  16. racket — for tennis
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. cue — a hint
  19. net — in sport
  20. arm — a part of something
  21. net — for catching
  22. track — to keep track
  23. leaves — to go away
  24. track — a path

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