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. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  2. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  3. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  4. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  7. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  8. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  9. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  10. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  11. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  12. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  13. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  14. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  15. That must've been a ________________.
  16. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  17. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  18. When was this ________________ built?
  19. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  24. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of a car
  2. jam — in traffic
  3. rush — hurry
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. can — to be able to
  6. ruler — a monarch
  7. pit — a hole
  8. patient — calm and waiting
  9. jam — a tight spot
  10. pit — a fruit stone
  11. trunk — of an elephant
  12. rush — to hurry
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. jam — to spread on bread
  15. rush — a thrill
  16. patient — a sick person
  17. pit — in a race
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. patient — a sick person
  20. can — a tin
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. can — a tin
  23. temple — side of the head
  24. trunk — of a tree

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