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. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  2. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  3. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  4. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  5. We're on a ________________ here.
  6. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  7. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  8. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  9. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  10. When will it ________________ you to start?
  11. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  12. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  13. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  14. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  15. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  16. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  17. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  19. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  20. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  21. That must've been a ________________.
  22. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  23. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  24. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mine — belonging to me
  2. scale — size or range
  3. band — a ring
  4. roll — a list
  5. roll — on a roll
  6. object — a thing
  7. band — a music group
  8. band — a rubber band
  9. object — to protest
  10. suit — to fit
  11. suit — clothes
  12. scale — for weighing
  13. scale — in music
  14. rush — hurry
  15. object — an aim
  16. mine — an explosive
  17. mine — for digging
  18. rush — to hurry
  19. board — a committee
  20. board — a flat piece
  21. rush — a thrill
  22. suit — in cards
  23. board — to get on
  24. roll — a cake

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