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 120 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. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  2. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  3. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  4. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  5. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  6. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  7. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  8. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  9. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  10. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  11. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  12. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  13. You don't need to ________________ round.
  14. The ________________ took off on time.
  15. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  16. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  17. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  18. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  19. We're almost out of ________________.
  20. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  21. The ________________ went through the wall.
  22. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  23. Did you ________________ the meat?
  24. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.

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

Answer key

  1. wound — an injury
  2. season — in sport
  3. chip — for betting
  4. wound — past of 'wind'
  5. pop — music
  6. plane — in geometry
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. drill — army training
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. chip — to eat
  11. season — of the year
  12. plane — a tool
  13. pop — to visit
  14. plane — an aircraft
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. drill — the tool
  17. chip — in a computer
  18. drill — a practice
  19. pop — soda
  20. ruler — a monarch
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. wound — an injury
  23. season — to add flavour
  24. nail — on a finger

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