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: row · foot · mark · squash · spring · cue · drill · charge

  1. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  2. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  3. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  4. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  5. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  6. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  7. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  8. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  9. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  10. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  11. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  12. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  13. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  14. The tickets are free of ________________.
  15. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  16. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  17. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  18. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  19. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  20. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  21. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  22. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  23. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  24. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.

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

Answer key

  1. row — to paddle
  2. spring — the season
  3. row — a quarrel
  4. squash — the sport
  5. charge — electricity
  6. drill — army training
  7. squash — to crush
  8. drill — the tool
  9. mark — a grade
  10. cue — for pool
  11. cue — a hint
  12. mark — a trace
  13. cue — a signal
  14. charge — a price
  15. squash — the vegetable
  16. spring — a coil
  17. row — a line
  18. mark — to pay attention
  19. foot — a measure
  20. spring — of water
  21. foot — part of the body
  22. drill — a practice
  23. foot — the bottom
  24. charge — in control

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