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. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  2. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  3. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  4. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  5. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  6. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  7. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  8. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  9. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  10. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  11. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  12. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  13. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  14. What do you think of the new ________________?
  15. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  16. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  17. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  18. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  19. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  20. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  21. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  22. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  23. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  24. The ________________ market has crashed.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. drill — army training
  3. wound — past of 'wind'
  4. cabinet — a cupboard
  5. rule — a law
  6. stock — a soup base
  7. wound — an injury
  8. jam — in traffic
  9. face — to confront
  10. jam — to spread on bread
  11. jam — a tight spot
  12. face — part of the head
  13. stock — goods
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. face — to point toward
  16. drill — the tool
  17. rule — to rule out
  18. board — a flat piece
  19. wound — an injury
  20. drill — a practice
  21. board — a committee
  22. rule — government
  23. board — to get on
  24. stock — shares

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