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 from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: arm · ruler · lean · firm · track · pitcher

  1. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  2. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  3. My father caught me by the ________________.
  4. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  5. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  6. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  7. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  8. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  9. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  10. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  11. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  12. He is an ace ________________.
  13. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  14. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  15. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  16. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  17. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  18. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.

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

Answer key

  1. lean — thin
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. arm — part of the body
  4. firm — decided
  5. track — a song
  6. ruler — a monarch
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. arm — a part of something
  9. track — a path
  10. lean — to rest against
  11. firm — steady
  12. pitcher — in baseball
  13. track — to keep track
  14. arm — part of the body
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. firm — a company
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. lean — to bend

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