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: roll · kick · ruler · hand · trunk · pass · mate · cap

  1. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  2. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  3. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  4. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  5. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  6. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  7. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  8. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  9. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  10. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  11. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  12. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  13. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  14. We're on a ________________ here.
  15. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  16. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  17. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  18. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  19. Have you found your soul ________________?
  20. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  21. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  22. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  23. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  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. kick — with a leg
  2. hand — in cards
  3. cap — a hat
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. hand — part of the body
  6. trunk — of a car
  7. trunk — of a tree
  8. mate — a friend
  9. pass — to succeed
  10. hand — help
  11. kick — a thrill
  12. roll — a cake
  13. cap — of ice
  14. roll — on a roll
  15. cap — a lid
  16. pass — a permit
  17. pass — to spend time
  18. kick — in football
  19. mate — a partner
  20. roll — a list
  21. ruler — a monarch
  22. trunk — of an elephant
  23. mate — to breed
  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