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. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  2. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  3. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  4. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  5. Have you met the new head ________________?
  6. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  7. We're on a ________________ here.
  8. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  9. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  10. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  11. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  12. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  13. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  14. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  15. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  16. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  17. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  18. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  19. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  20. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  21. That must've been a ________________.
  22. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  23. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  24. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — a monarch
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. scale — in music
  4. track — a song
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. track — a path
  7. roll — on a roll
  8. tear — from crying
  9. tear — to rip
  10. rush — to hurry
  11. cap — of ice
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. cap — a lid
  14. cap — a hat
  15. tear — from crying
  16. roll — a list
  17. track — to keep track
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. rush — hurry
  20. scale — for weighing
  21. rush — a thrill
  22. scale — size or range
  23. roll — a cake
  24. coach — pulled by horses

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