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 ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  2. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  3. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  4. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  5. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  6. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  7. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  8. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  9. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  10. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  11. That was a fun ________________.
  12. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  13. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  14. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  15. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  16. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  17. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  18. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  19. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  20. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  21. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  22. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  23. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  24. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. cue — for pool
  4. hand — help
  5. game — a kind of play
  6. leaves — of a tree
  7. wound — an injury
  8. bass — the instrument
  9. hand — part of the body
  10. wound — an injury
  11. game — a match
  12. leaves — lets stay
  13. wound — past of 'wind'
  14. game — wild animals
  15. hand — in cards
  16. bass — low music
  17. current — of water
  18. cue — a signal
  19. current — electric
  20. bass — the fish
  21. leaves — to go away
  22. cue — a hint
  23. ruler — a monarch
  24. current — happening now

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