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. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  3. Have you found your soul ________________?
  4. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  5. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  6. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  7. Did you ________________ the meat?
  8. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  9. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  10. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  11. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  12. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  13. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  14. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  15. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  16. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  17. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  18. The ________________ took off on time.
  19. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  20. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  21. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  22. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  23. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  24. The ball hit the back of the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. bass — the instrument
  3. mate — a partner
  4. bore — to tire
  5. plane — in geometry
  6. net — after costs
  7. season — to add flavour
  8. degree — from a university
  9. net — for catching
  10. season — in sport
  11. bore — gave birth
  12. mate — a friend
  13. bass — the fish
  14. ruler — a monarch
  15. mate — to breed
  16. plane — a tool
  17. bore — to drill
  18. plane — an aircraft
  19. degree — temperature
  20. bass — low music
  21. degree — an amount
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. season — of the year
  24. net — in sport

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