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: jam · cue · staff · chest · coach · last · lie · current

  1. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  2. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  3. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  4. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  5. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  6. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  7. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  8. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  9. Have you met the new head ________________?
  10. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  11. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  12. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  13. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  14. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  15. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  16. False peace will not ________________.
  17. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  18. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  19. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  20. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  21. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  22. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  23. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  24. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — in traffic
  2. chest — a box
  3. chest — of your body
  4. staff — a stick
  5. last — final
  6. cue — a hint
  7. current — electric
  8. current — happening now
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. cue — for pool
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. jam — to spread on bread
  13. last — finally
  14. staff — employees
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. last — to go on
  17. jam — a tight spot
  18. lie — to recline
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. current — of water
  21. coach — pulled by horses
  22. staff — employees
  23. cue — a signal
  24. chest — of your body

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