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. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  2. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  3. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  4. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  5. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  6. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  7. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  8. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  9. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  10. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  11. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  12. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  13. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  14. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  15. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  16. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  17. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  18. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  19. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  20. He is an ace ________________.
  21. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  22. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  23. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  24. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. hand — part of the body
  2. ruler — a monarch
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. stick — to attach or keep to
  5. stick — a piece of wood
  6. stick — a piece of wood
  7. degree — from a university
  8. hand — in cards
  9. dip — a sauce
  10. jam — a tight spot
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. cue — a hint
  14. hand — help
  15. degree — temperature
  16. cue — for pool
  17. degree — an amount
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. dip — to dunk
  20. pitcher — in baseball
  21. cue — a signal
  22. jam — to spread on bread
  23. dip — to sink
  24. jam — in traffic

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