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. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  2. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  3. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  4. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  5. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  6. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  7. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  8. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  9. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  10. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  11. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  12. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  13. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  14. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  15. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  16. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  17. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  18. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  19. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  20. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  21. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  22. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  23. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  24. The ________________ change colour in autumn.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — for betting
  2. craft — a handicraft
  3. stick — a piece of wood
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. craft — a skill
  6. leaves — to go away
  7. fan — to cool the air
  8. chip — in a computer
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. scale — in music
  11. scale — for weighing
  12. leaves — lets stay
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. chip — to eat
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. club — for golf
  17. craft — boats
  18. ruler — a monarch
  19. stick — to attach or keep to
  20. club — a group
  21. stick — a piece of wood
  22. scale — size or range
  23. club — for dancing
  24. leaves — of a tree

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