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 president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  2. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  3. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  4. There's no middle ________________.
  5. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  6. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  7. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  8. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  9. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  10. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  11. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  14. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  15. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  16. He is an ace ________________.
  17. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  20. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  21. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  22. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  23. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. squash — to crush
  2. ground — crushed
  3. ruler — a monarch
  4. ground — a position
  5. jam — to spread on bread
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. ground — the earth
  8. foot — the bottom
  9. stick — a piece of wood
  10. jam — a tight spot
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. foot — a measure
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. stick — a piece of wood
  16. pitcher — in baseball
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. squash — the vegetable
  20. foot — part of the body
  21. jam — in traffic
  22. squash — the sport
  23. stick — to attach or keep to
  24. safe — out of danger

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