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: pitch · pitcher · squash · ball · nail · mine · chair · ruler

  1. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  2. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  3. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  4. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  5. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  6. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  7. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  8. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  9. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  10. He is an ace ________________.
  11. The King held a masked ________________.
  12. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  13. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  14. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  15. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  16. The ________________ went through the wall.
  17. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  18. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  19. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  20. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  21. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  22. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  23. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  24. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a round shape
  2. squash — the vegetable
  3. nail — on a finger
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. mine — belonging to me
  7. mine — an explosive
  8. squash — the sport
  9. pitch — completely
  10. pitcher — in baseball
  11. ball — a dance
  12. chair — to sit on
  13. squash — to crush
  14. pitch — a sales talk
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. ruler — a monarch
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. ball — a great time
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. mine — for digging
  22. pitch — a sports field
  23. chair — a leader
  24. chair — a professorship

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