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: date · bank · foot · ruler · prune · can · game · scale

  1. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  2. Have you settled on a ________________?
  3. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  4. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  5. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  6. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  7. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  10. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  11. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  12. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  13. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  14. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  15. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  16. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  19. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  20. That was a fun ________________.
  21. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  22. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — the bottom
  2. date — on the calendar
  3. ruler — a monarch
  4. game — a kind of play
  5. foot — a measure
  6. bank — of a river
  7. date — on the calendar
  8. can — a tin
  9. bank — for money
  10. scale — in music
  11. prune — the fruit
  12. foot — part of the body
  13. scale — size or range
  14. scale — for weighing
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. bank — for money
  17. can — a tin
  18. game — wild animals
  19. prune — to trim
  20. game — a match
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. date — the fruit
  23. can — to be able to
  24. prune — to trim

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