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 had a ________________ with my boss today.
  2. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  3. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  4. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  5. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  6. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  7. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  8. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  9. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  10. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  11. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  12. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  13. Have you settled on a ________________?
  14. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  15. When will it ________________ you to start?
  16. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  17. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  18. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  19. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  20. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  21. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  22. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  23. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  24. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.

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

Answer key

  1. row — a quarrel
  2. suit — in cards
  3. date — the fruit
  4. suit — clothes
  5. bark — to shout
  6. chip — in a computer
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. bark — of a tree
  10. jam — a tight spot
  11. chip — for betting
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. date — on the calendar
  14. ruler — a monarch
  15. suit — to fit
  16. mouse — for a computer
  17. jam — in traffic
  18. jam — to spread on bread
  19. chip — to eat
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. date — on the calendar
  22. row — to paddle
  23. bark — a dog's sound
  24. row — a line

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