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: field · jam · trunk · press · bark · pitch · date · cue

  1. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  2. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  3. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  4. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  5. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  6. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  7. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  8. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  9. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  10. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  11. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  12. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  13. Have you settled on a ________________?
  14. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  15. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  16. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  17. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  18. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  19. Did you ________________ the button?
  20. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  21. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  22. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  23. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  24. The elephant has a huge ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pitch — a sports field
  2. jam — to spread on bread
  3. press — newspapers
  4. trunk — of a tree
  5. jam — a tight spot
  6. cue — for pool
  7. cue — a signal
  8. pitch — a sales talk
  9. pitch — completely
  10. field — a subject
  11. field — for sport
  12. trunk — of a car
  13. date — on the calendar
  14. bark — of a tree
  15. field — farmland
  16. jam — in traffic
  17. date — the fruit
  18. press — a publisher
  19. press — to push
  20. bark — a dog's sound
  21. bark — to shout
  22. cue — a hint
  23. date — on the calendar
  24. trunk — of an elephant

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