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: hide · saw · roll · band · ruler · mark · face · leaves

  1. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  2. He works in a ________________ mill.
  3. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  4. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  5. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  6. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  7. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  8. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  9. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  10. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  11. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  12. She's very handy with a ________________.
  13. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  14. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  15. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  16. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  17. We're on a ________________ here.
  18. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  19. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  20. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  21. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  22. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  23. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  24. The people resisted their cruel ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. saw — the tool
  3. band — a ring
  4. mark — to pay attention
  5. face — part of the head
  6. mark — a trace
  7. roll — a list
  8. hide — animal skin
  9. saw — past of 'see'
  10. band — a rubber band
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. saw — the tool
  13. leaves — of a tree
  14. face — to confront
  15. leaves — to go away
  16. mark — a grade
  17. roll — on a roll
  18. band — a music group
  19. face — to point toward
  20. roll — a cake
  21. hide — to keep secret
  22. leaves — lets stay
  23. hide — to keep secret
  24. ruler — a monarch

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