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 rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  2. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  3. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  4. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  5. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  6. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  7. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  12. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  13. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  14. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  15. How do you ________________ your surname?
  16. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  17. When will it ________________ you to start?
  18. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  19. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  20. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  21. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  22. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  23. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  24. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a tool
  2. suit — in cards
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. pound — for dogs
  5. suit — clothes
  6. pit — in a race
  7. content — happy
  8. current — electric
  9. pound — a weight
  10. current — happening now
  11. pound — to hit hard
  12. file — a line of people
  13. current — of water
  14. pit — a fruit stone
  15. spell — letters
  16. content — videos and posts
  17. suit — to fit
  18. spell — a short time
  19. spell — magic
  20. content — the amount
  21. ruler — a monarch
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. pit — a hole
  24. file — a document

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