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: kid · rush · pitch · ruler · bore · cabinet · rash · sharp

  1. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  2. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  3. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  4. That must've been a ________________.
  5. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  6. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  7. What do you think of the new ________________?
  8. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  9. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  10. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  11. It's one o'clock ________________.
  12. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  13. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  14. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  15. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  16. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  17. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  18. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  19. Don't do anything ________________.
  20. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  21. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  22. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  23. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  24. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — hurry
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  4. rush — a thrill
  5. ruler — a monarch
  6. pitch — completely
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. bore — gave birth
  9. kid — child
  10. sharp — clever
  11. sharp — exactly
  12. bore — to tire
  13. rush — to hurry
  14. sharp — with an edge
  15. rash — on the skin
  16. cabinet — a cupboard
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. pitch — a sales talk
  19. rash — hasty
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. kid — to tease
  22. pitch — a sports field
  23. rash — a series
  24. bore — to drill

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