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. Have you met the new head ________________?
  2. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  3. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  4. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  5. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  6. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  7. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  8. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  9. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  10. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  11. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  12. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  13. The tickets are free of ________________.
  14. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  15. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  16. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  17. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  18. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  19. We're on a ________________ here.
  20. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  21. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  22. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  23. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  24. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. bank — of a river
  3. lie — to recline
  4. roll — a cake
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. coach — pulled by horses
  7. charge — electricity
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. track — to keep track
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. board — a flat piece
  12. board — a committee
  13. charge — a price
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. track — a path
  16. board — to get on
  17. track — a song
  18. roll — a list
  19. roll — on a roll
  20. ruler — a monarch
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. bank — for money
  23. charge — in control
  24. bank — for money

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