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. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  2. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  3. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  4. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  5. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  6. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  7. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  8. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  9. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  10. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  11. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  12. There's no middle ________________.
  13. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  14. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  15. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  16. He works in a ________________ mill.
  17. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  18. What do you think of the new ________________?
  19. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  20. She's very handy with a ________________.
  21. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  22. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  23. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  24. You can't go backstage without a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — a cupboard
  2. saw — past of 'see'
  3. ruler — a monarch
  4. pitch — a sales talk
  5. pass — to spend time
  6. pass — to succeed
  7. bark — a dog's sound
  8. bark — of a tree
  9. row — a quarrel
  10. pitch — a sports field
  11. ground — crushed
  12. ground — a position
  13. row — to paddle
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. bark — to shout
  16. saw — the tool
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. pitch — completely
  20. saw — the tool
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. ground — the earth
  23. row — a line
  24. pass — a permit

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