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 120 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 second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  2. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  3. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  4. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  5. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  6. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  7. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  8. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  9. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  10. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  11. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  12. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  13. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  14. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  15. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  16. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  17. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  18. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  19. The ________________ took off on time.
  20. Don't do anything ________________.
  21. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  22. When will it ________________ you to start?
  23. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  24. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.

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

Answer key

  1. capital — money
  2. ruler — a monarch
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. plane — in geometry
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. degree — an amount
  7. plane — a tool
  8. suit — clothes
  9. rash — a series
  10. suit — in cards
  11. trunk — of an elephant
  12. capital — a city
  13. dip — a sauce
  14. trunk — of a tree
  15. dip — to dunk
  16. rash — on the skin
  17. dip — to sink
  18. degree — from a university
  19. plane — an aircraft
  20. rash — hasty
  21. trunk — of a car
  22. suit — to fit
  23. degree — temperature
  24. capital — a big letter

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