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: jam · cabinet · pitcher · kick · ruler · fine · board · bass

  1. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  2. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  3. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  4. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  5. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  6. What do you think of the new ________________?
  7. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  8. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  9. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  10. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  11. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  12. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  13. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  14. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  15. He is an ace ________________.
  16. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  17. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  18. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  19. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  20. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  21. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  22. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  23. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  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. ruler — a monarch
  2. kick — a thrill
  3. fine — all right
  4. bass — the instrument
  5. jam — in traffic
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. bass — low music
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. fine — high quality
  10. board — to get on
  11. jam — to spread on bread
  12. kick — in football
  13. fine — a penalty
  14. cabinet — a cupboard
  15. pitcher — in baseball
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. board — a flat piece
  18. board — a committee
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. bass — the fish
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. jam — a tight spot
  23. kick — with a leg
  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