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 120 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: bear · court · mouse · firm · mark · cue · tube · prune

  1. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  2. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  3. The ball is in your ________________.
  4. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  5. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  6. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  7. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  8. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  9. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  10. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  11. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  12. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  13. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  14. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  15. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  16. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  17. I'll be taking the ________________.
  18. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  19. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  20. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  21. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  22. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  23. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  24. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. tube — in a tire
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. court — for sport
  4. cue — a hint
  5. bear — the animal
  6. tube — a container
  7. mark — a trace
  8. bear — to put up with
  9. prune — to trim
  10. mark — a grade
  11. firm — steady
  12. mouse — for a computer
  13. cue — a signal
  14. prune — the fruit
  15. court — of law
  16. cue — for pool
  17. tube — the underground
  18. court — of a king
  19. prune — to trim
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. mark — to pay attention
  22. firm — decided
  23. bear — the animal
  24. firm — a company

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