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. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  2. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  3. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  4. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  5. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  6. When are we going to ________________?
  7. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  8. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  9. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  10. Did you ________________ the button?
  11. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  12. She's very handy with a ________________.
  13. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  14. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  15. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  16. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  17. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  18. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  19. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  20. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  21. He works in a ________________ mill.
  22. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  23. It's one o'clock ________________.
  24. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.

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

Answer key

  1. track — a song
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. press — newspapers
  5. track — to keep track
  6. land — to come down
  7. trunk — of a car
  8. saw — past of 'see'
  9. track — a path
  10. press — to push
  11. ruler — a monarch
  12. saw — the tool
  13. land — a country
  14. sharp — with an edge
  15. trunk — of a tree
  16. trunk — of an elephant
  17. bear — the animal
  18. sharp — clever
  19. bear — to put up with
  20. bear — the animal
  21. saw — the tool
  22. land — ground
  23. sharp — exactly
  24. press — a publisher

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