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: wax · rule · fork · file · ruler · mate · drill · rock

  1. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  2. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  3. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  4. Have you found your soul ________________?
  5. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  6. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  7. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  8. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  9. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  10. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  11. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  12. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  13. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  14. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  15. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  16. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  17. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  18. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  19. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  20. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  21. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  22. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  23. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  24. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?

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

Answer key

  1. wax — for sculpting
  2. drill — a practice
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. mate — a partner
  5. file — a tool
  6. rock — a stone
  7. rule — government
  8. drill — army training
  9. file — a document
  10. rule — to rule out
  11. wax — to grow
  12. fork — in a road
  13. rock — music
  14. ruler — a monarch
  15. rule — a law
  16. fork — a garden tool
  17. mate — to breed
  18. rock — to move gently
  19. wax — in the ear
  20. file — a line of people
  21. drill — the tool
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. fork — to eat with
  24. mate — a friend

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