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. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  3. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  4. The ________________ went through the wall.
  5. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  6. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  7. What do you think of the new ________________?
  8. Did you ________________ the meat?
  9. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  10. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  11. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  12. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  13. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  14. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  15. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  16. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  17. She's very handy with a ________________.
  18. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  19. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  20. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  21. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  22. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  23. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  24. He works in a ________________ mill.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. deal — a big deal
  3. deal — to handle
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. prune — to trim
  6. pass — to succeed
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. season — to add flavour
  9. cabinet — a cupboard
  10. prune — the fruit
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. pass — a permit
  13. deal — an agreement
  14. saw — past of 'see'
  15. season — of the year
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. saw — the tool
  18. prune — to trim
  19. nail — on a finger
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. pass — to spend time
  22. season — in sport
  23. ruler — a monarch
  24. saw — the tool

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