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: bound · ruler · pitcher · cue · can · fine · tube · rest

  1. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  2. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  3. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  4. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  5. I'll be taking the ________________.
  6. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  7. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  8. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  9. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  10. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  13. He is an ace ________________.
  14. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  15. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  16. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  17. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  18. That was ________________ to happen.
  19. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  20. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  21. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  22. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  23. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  24. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.

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

Answer key

  1. can — to be able to
  2. rest — a break
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. cue — a hint
  5. tube — the underground
  6. cue — a signal
  7. rest — what's left
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. cue — for pool
  10. fine — all right
  11. can — a tin
  12. fine — a penalty
  13. pitcher — in baseball
  14. ruler — a monarch
  15. fine — high quality
  16. rest — what's left
  17. tube — a container
  18. bound — certain
  19. bound — obliged
  20. can — a tin
  21. bound — tied together
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. tube — in a tire
  24. ruler — for measuring

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