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 116 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 chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  2. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  3. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  4. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  5. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  6. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  7. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  8. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  9. He is an ace ________________.
  10. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  11. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  12. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  13. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  14. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  15. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  16. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  17. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  18. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  19. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  20. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  21. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  22. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  23. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  24. Fill up this ________________ with water.

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

Answer key

  1. rule — to rule out
  2. board — to get on
  3. cap — of ice
  4. mark — to pay attention
  5. cap — a lid
  6. rule — government
  7. cap — a hat
  8. rule — a law
  9. pitcher — in baseball
  10. rock — to move gently
  11. board — a flat piece
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. wax — to grow
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. mark — a grade
  16. wax — for sculpting
  17. board — a committee
  18. wax — in the ear
  19. mark — a trace
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. rock — a stone
  22. rock — music
  23. lie — to recline
  24. pitcher — a jug

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