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. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  2. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  3. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  4. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  5. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  6. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  7. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  8. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  9. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  10. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  11. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  12. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  13. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  14. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  15. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  16. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  17. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  18. We're on a ________________ here.
  19. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  20. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  21. Where did you ________________ them?
  22. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  23. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  24. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.

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

Answer key

  1. content — videos and posts
  2. jam — in traffic
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. row — a line
  5. wind — moving air
  6. content — happy
  7. jam — a tight spot
  8. row — to paddle
  9. row — a quarrel
  10. track — to keep track
  11. mug — a cup
  12. jam — to spread on bread
  13. mug — a face
  14. roll — a cake
  15. wind — moving air
  16. track — a song
  17. roll — a list
  18. roll — on a roll
  19. content — the amount
  20. ruler — a monarch
  21. mug — to rob
  22. wind — to turn a key
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. track — a path

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