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. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  2. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  3. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  4. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  5. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  6. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  7. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  8. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  9. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  10. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  11. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  12. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  13. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  14. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  15. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  16. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  17. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  18. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  19. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  20. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  21. This piece is in a major ________________.
  22. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  23. There's no middle ________________.
  24. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.

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

Answer key

  1. ground — crushed
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. branch — of a tree
  4. ruler — a monarch
  5. ground — the earth
  6. key — the most important part
  7. wound — past of 'wind'
  8. wound — an injury
  9. hand — help
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. hide — to keep secret
  12. track — to keep track
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. branch — of a bank
  15. track — a path
  16. key — for a lock
  17. track — a song
  18. hand — in cards
  19. branch — a division
  20. hand — part of the body
  21. key — in music
  22. wound — an injury
  23. ground — a position
  24. hide — animal skin

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