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: pitcher · degree · ruler · track · board · squash · key · dip

  1. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  2. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  3. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  4. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  5. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  6. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  7. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  8. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  9. This piece is in a major ________________.
  10. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  11. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  12. He is an ace ________________.
  13. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  14. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  15. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  16. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  17. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  18. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  19. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  20. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  21. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  22. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  23. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  24. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to dunk
  2. board — a committee
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. key — for a lock
  5. degree — temperature
  6. board — a flat piece
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. squash — the vegetable
  9. key — in music
  10. ruler — a monarch
  11. squash — the sport
  12. pitcher — in baseball
  13. track — a song
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. squash — to crush
  16. key — the most important part
  17. degree — from a university
  18. track — to keep track
  19. track — a path
  20. degree — an amount
  21. dip — a sauce
  22. board — to get on
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. dip — to sink

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