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. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  4. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  5. He is an ace ________________.
  6. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  7. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  8. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  9. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  10. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  11. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  12. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  13. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  14. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  15. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  16. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  17. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  18. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  19. When was this ________________ built?
  20. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  21. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  22. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  23. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  24. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. rock — a stone
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. cue — a hint
  5. pitcher — in baseball
  6. wax — to grow
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. wax — for sculpting
  9. wound — an injury
  10. cue — for pool
  11. wax — in the ear
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. vault — an arched ceiling
  14. vault — a safe
  15. rock — music
  16. wound — an injury
  17. ruler — a monarch
  18. cue — a signal
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. wound — past of 'wind'
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. rock — to move gently
  23. vault — in gymnastics
  24. temple — side of the head

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