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 116 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: board · content · nail · wax · rush · rule · ruler · perch

  1. The ________________ went through the wall.
  2. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  3. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  4. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  5. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  6. That must've been a ________________.
  7. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  8. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  9. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  10. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  11. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  12. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  13. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  14. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  15. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  16. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  17. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  18. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  19. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  20. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  21. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  22. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  23. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  24. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. perch — for a bird
  3. ruler — a monarch
  4. board — a flat piece
  5. content — the amount
  6. rush — a thrill
  7. wax — in the ear
  8. board — a committee
  9. wax — to grow
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. rush — to hurry
  12. rule — government
  13. perch — the fish
  14. board — to get on
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. rush — hurry
  17. wax — for sculpting
  18. perch — for a bird
  19. rule — a law
  20. rule — to rule out
  21. content — videos and posts
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. content — happy
  24. nail — on a finger

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