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: pass · degree · prune · toast · pitcher · ruler · temple · nail

  1. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  2. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  3. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  4. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  5. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  6. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  7. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  8. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  9. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  10. He is an ace ________________.
  11. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  12. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  13. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  14. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  15. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  16. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  17. When was this ________________ built?
  18. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  19. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  20. The ________________ went through the wall.
  21. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  22. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  23. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  24. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — a jug
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. pass — to succeed
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. toast — the most admired
  6. degree — temperature
  7. degree — an amount
  8. temple — side of the head
  9. prune — to trim
  10. pitcher — in baseball
  11. toast — bread
  12. prune — to trim
  13. pass — to spend time
  14. toast — a drink to someone
  15. ruler — a monarch
  16. pass — a permit
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. degree — from a university
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. nail — on a finger
  22. prune — the fruit
  23. temple — a place of worship
  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