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 a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  2. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  3. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  4. I can't ________________ this cold.
  5. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  6. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  7. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  8. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  9. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  10. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  11. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  12. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  13. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  14. Where did you ________________ them?
  15. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  16. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  17. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  18. This piece is in a major ________________.
  19. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  20. He is an ace ________________.
  21. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  22. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  23. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  24. Have you settled on a ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. date — the fruit
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. shower — to wash
  4. stand — to bear
  5. key — the most important part
  6. file — a line of people
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. key — for a lock
  10. stand — on your feet
  11. file — a tool
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. shower — a meteor shower
  14. mug — to rob
  15. mug — a face
  16. date — on the calendar
  17. ruler — a monarch
  18. key — in music
  19. shower — rain
  20. pitcher — in baseball
  21. file — a document
  22. stand — for spectators
  23. mug — a cup
  24. date — on the calendar

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