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 newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  2. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  3. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  4. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  5. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  6. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  7. The ________________ went through the wall.
  8. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  9. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  10. Don't do anything ________________.
  11. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  12. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  13. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  14. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  15. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  16. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  17. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  18. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  19. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  20. We're on a ________________ here.
  21. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  22. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  23. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  24. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — the bottom
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. jam — a tight spot
  4. band — a rubber band
  5. deal — an agreement
  6. foot — part of the body
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. jam — to spread on bread
  10. rash — hasty
  11. jam — in traffic
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. band — a music group
  14. roll — a list
  15. rash — on the skin
  16. foot — a measure
  17. rash — a series
  18. nail — on a finger
  19. roll — a cake
  20. roll — on a roll
  21. deal — to handle
  22. deal — a big deal
  23. ruler — a monarch
  24. band — a ring

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