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. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  2. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  3. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  4. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  5. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  6. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  7. The tickets are free of ________________.
  8. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  9. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  10. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  11. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  12. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  13. When was this ________________ built?
  14. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  15. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  16. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  17. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  18. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  19. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  20. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  21. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  22. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  23. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  24. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.

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

Answer key

  1. patient — a sick person
  2. pitch — a sales talk
  3. dip — to sink
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. clip — for paper
  6. patient — calm and waiting
  7. charge — a price
  8. bear — to put up with
  9. clip — to cut
  10. bear — the animal
  11. charge — electricity
  12. clip — a video
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. charge — in control
  15. temple — side of the head
  16. patient — a sick person
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. dip — to dunk
  19. pitch — a sports field
  20. bear — the animal
  21. ruler — a monarch
  22. dip — a sauce
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. pitch — completely

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