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 116 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. Where did you ________________ them?
  2. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  3. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  4. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  5. That was ________________ to happen.
  6. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  7. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  8. That must've been a ________________.
  9. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  10. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  11. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  12. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  13. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  14. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  15. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  16. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  17. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  18. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  19. That was a fun ________________.
  20. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  21. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  22. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  23. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  24. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — to rob
  2. rush — hurry
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. game — a kind of play
  5. bound — certain
  6. scale — in music
  7. rush — to hurry
  8. rush — a thrill
  9. bound — tied together
  10. bound — obliged
  11. rest — a break
  12. mug — a cup
  13. rest — what's left
  14. rest — what's left
  15. vault — a safe
  16. vault — an arched ceiling
  17. scale — size or range
  18. mug — a face
  19. game — a match
  20. ruler — a monarch
  21. game — wild animals
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. vault — in gymnastics
  24. scale — for weighing

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