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 in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  2. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  3. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  4. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  5. That was ________________ to happen.
  6. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  7. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  8. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  9. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  10. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  11. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  12. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  15. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  16. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  17. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  18. The ________________ took off on time.
  19. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  20. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  23. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  24. He was blown up by a land ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pound — a weight
  2. pound — to hit hard
  3. mine — belonging to me
  4. ruler — a monarch
  5. bound — certain
  6. trunk — of an elephant
  7. mine — for digging
  8. leaves — to go away
  9. leaves — lets stay
  10. plane — a tool
  11. bound — obliged
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. can — a tin
  14. trunk — of a car
  15. plane — in geometry
  16. trunk — of a tree
  17. bound — tied together
  18. plane — an aircraft
  19. pound — for dogs
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. can — to be able to
  22. leaves — of a tree
  23. can — a tin
  24. mine — an explosive

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