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. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  2. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  3. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  4. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  5. That must've been a ________________.
  6. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  7. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  8. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  9. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  10. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  11. What do you think of the new ________________?
  12. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  13. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  14. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  15. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  16. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  17. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  18. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  19. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  20. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  21. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  22. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  23. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  24. Many English words ________________ from Latin.

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

Answer key

  1. net — for catching
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. stem — of a plant
  4. club — a group
  5. rush — a thrill
  6. club — for dancing
  7. band — a ring
  8. ruler — a monarch
  9. club — for golf
  10. band — a music group
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. net — after costs
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. rush — hurry
  15. rush — to hurry
  16. board — a committee
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. board — a flat piece
  19. net — in sport
  20. board — to get on
  21. stem — a stem cell
  22. cabinet — a cupboard
  23. band — a rubber band
  24. stem — to come from

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