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. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  2. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  3. When are we going to ________________?
  4. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  5. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  6. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  7. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  8. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  9. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  10. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  11. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  12. I've got to change the light ________________.
  13. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  14. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  15. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  16. Did you ________________ the button?
  17. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  18. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  19. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  20. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  21. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  24. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. land — a country
  3. land — to come down
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. patient — a sick person
  6. ruler — a monarch
  7. fan — to cool the air
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. fork — in a road
  11. patient — a sick person
  12. bulb — for light
  13. patient — calm and waiting
  14. branch — of a bank
  15. branch — of a tree
  16. press — to push
  17. land — ground
  18. branch — a division
  19. press — a publisher
  20. bulb — of a plant
  21. press — newspapers
  22. bulb — for light
  23. fork — to eat with
  24. fork — a garden tool

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