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 ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  2. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  3. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  4. Don't do anything ________________.
  5. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  6. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  7. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  8. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  9. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  10. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  11. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  12. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  13. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  14. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  15. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  16. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  17. That was ________________ to happen.
  18. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  19. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  20. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  21. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  22. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  23. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  24. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. pass — a permit
  3. bank — of a river
  4. rash — hasty
  5. rash — a series
  6. net — after costs
  7. mouse — for a computer
  8. bank — for money
  9. pass — to spend time
  10. bound — tied together
  11. ruler — a monarch
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. pass — to succeed
  15. bat — the animal
  16. bat — in an idiom
  17. bound — certain
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. bound — obliged
  20. rash — on the skin
  21. bank — for money
  22. net — in sport
  23. net — for catching
  24. bat — for baseball

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