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: ball · track · spring · cabinet · mug · toast · cue · rest

  1. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  2. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  3. Where did you ________________ them?
  4. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  5. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  6. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  7. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  8. What do you think of the new ________________?
  9. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  10. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  11. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  12. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  13. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  14. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  15. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  16. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  17. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  18. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  19. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  20. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  21. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  22. The King held a masked ________________.
  23. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  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. spring — the season
  2. cue — a signal
  3. mug — to rob
  4. rest — what's left
  5. ball — a great time
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. ball — a round shape
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. toast — a drink to someone
  10. mug — a cup
  11. track — to keep track
  12. cue — for pool
  13. cue — a hint
  14. cabinet — a cupboard
  15. spring — a coil
  16. spring — of water
  17. rest — a break
  18. mug — a face
  19. toast — bread
  20. rest — what's left
  21. toast — the most admired
  22. ball — a dance
  23. track — a song
  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