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: toast · land · cell · pitch · rock · pop · pitcher · ruler

  1. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  2. He was locked up in a ________________.
  3. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  4. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  5. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  6. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  7. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  8. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  9. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  10. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  11. He is an ace ________________.
  12. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  13. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  14. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  15. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  16. When are we going to ________________?
  17. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  18. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  19. You don't need to ________________ round.
  20. We're almost out of ________________.
  21. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  22. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  23. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  24. We were using a ________________ as a seat.

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

Answer key

  1. cell — a phone
  2. cell — in a prison
  3. land — a country
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. pitch — completely
  7. ruler — a monarch
  8. rock — to move gently
  9. toast — the most admired
  10. cell — in biology
  11. pitcher — in baseball
  12. pitch — a sports field
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. toast — a drink to someone
  15. rock — music
  16. land — to come down
  17. toast — bread
  18. pitch — a sales talk
  19. pop — to visit
  20. pop — soda
  21. land — ground
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. pop — music
  24. rock — a stone

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