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 people resisted their cruel ________________.
  2. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  3. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  4. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  5. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  6. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  7. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  8. That was ________________ to happen.
  9. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  10. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  11. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  12. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  13. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  14. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  15. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  16. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  17. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  18. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  19. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  20. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  21. He is an ace ________________.
  22. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  23. Have you found your soul ________________?
  24. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — a monarch
  2. mate — a friend
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. mate — to breed
  5. bore — to drill
  6. mark — to pay attention
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. bound — certain
  9. bound — obliged
  10. file — a line of people
  11. mark — a grade
  12. bound — tied together
  13. file — a tool
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. bowl — a dish
  16. bore — gave birth
  17. bowl — to roll
  18. mark — a trace
  19. bowl — a football final
  20. file — a document
  21. pitcher — in baseball
  22. bore — to tire
  23. mate — a partner
  24. ruler — for measuring

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