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: content · pop · track · trunk · net · roll · stand · ruler

  1. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  3. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  4. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  5. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  6. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  7. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  8. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  9. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  10. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  11. I can't ________________ this cold.
  12. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  13. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  14. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  15. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  16. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  17. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  18. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  19. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  20. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  21. We're on a ________________ here.
  22. You don't need to ________________ round.
  23. We're almost out of ________________.
  24. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. track — a song
  3. net — in sport
  4. net — after costs
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. content — happy
  7. roll — a list
  8. track — a path
  9. trunk — of a car
  10. ruler — a monarch
  11. stand — to bear
  12. roll — a cake
  13. pop — music
  14. content — the amount
  15. trunk — of an elephant
  16. stand — on your feet
  17. content — videos and posts
  18. stand — for spectators
  19. track — to keep track
  20. net — for catching
  21. roll — on a roll
  22. pop — to visit
  23. pop — soda
  24. trunk — of a tree

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