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: pit · root · arm · cue · press · chest · pitcher · content

  1. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  2. He is an ace ________________.
  3. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  4. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  5. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  6. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  7. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  8. Did you ________________ the button?
  9. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  10. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  11. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  12. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  13. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  14. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  15. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  16. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  17. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  18. My father caught me by the ________________.
  19. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  20. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  21. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  22. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  23. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  24. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — in a race
  2. pitcher — in baseball
  3. cue — for pool
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. root — of a plant
  6. chest — a box
  7. cue — a hint
  8. press — to push
  9. arm — a part of something
  10. content — videos and posts
  11. press — newspapers
  12. cue — a signal
  13. chest — of your body
  14. arm — part of the body
  15. root — of a word
  16. content — the amount
  17. chest — of your body
  18. arm — part of the body
  19. pit — a fruit stone
  20. root — the cause
  21. pit — a hole
  22. content — happy
  23. press — a publisher
  24. pitcher — a jug

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