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. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  3. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  4. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  5. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  6. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  7. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  8. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  9. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  10. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  11. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  12. There's no middle ________________.
  13. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  14. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  15. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  16. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  17. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  18. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  19. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  20. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  21. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  22. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  23. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  24. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. ground — the earth
  3. wax — for sculpting
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. field — farmland
  6. dip — a sauce
  7. wax — to grow
  8. fine — a penalty
  9. field — for sport
  10. bowl — a football final
  11. bowl — a dish
  12. ground — a position
  13. dip — to dunk
  14. ground — crushed
  15. dip — to sink
  16. wax — in the ear
  17. fine — all right
  18. drill — army training
  19. field — a subject
  20. ruler — a monarch
  21. drill — the tool
  22. drill — a practice
  23. bowl — to roll
  24. fine — high quality

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