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 120 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: ruler · rock · nail · march · charge · mark · pop · sharp

  1. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  2. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  3. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  4. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  5. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  6. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  7. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  8. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  9. The tickets are free of ________________.
  10. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  11. We're almost out of ________________.
  12. The ________________ went through the wall.
  13. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  14. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  15. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  16. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  17. You don't need to ________________ round.
  18. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  19. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  20. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  21. It's one o'clock ________________.
  22. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  23. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  24. This knife is not ________________ enough.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — clever
  2. ruler — a monarch
  3. charge — electricity
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. charge — in control
  6. mark — a grade
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. nail — on a finger
  9. charge — a price
  10. march — the month
  11. pop — soda
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. march — the month
  14. rock — a stone
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. mark — a trace
  17. pop — to visit
  18. mark — to pay attention
  19. pop — music
  20. march — music
  21. sharp — exactly
  22. rock — to move gently
  23. rock — music
  24. sharp — with an edge

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