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: mouse · fork · jam · hand · lean · rush · ruler · coach

  1. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  2. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  3. That must've been a ________________.
  4. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  5. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  6. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  7. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  8. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  9. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  10. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  11. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  12. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  13. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  14. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  15. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  16. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  17. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  18. Have you met the new head ________________?
  19. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  20. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  21. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  22. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  23. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  24. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. hand — help
  2. fork — in a road
  3. rush — a thrill
  4. rush — to hurry
  5. hand — in cards
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. jam — a tight spot
  8. lean — to rest against
  9. rush — hurry
  10. jam — in traffic
  11. lean — thin
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. hand — part of the body
  14. fork — a garden tool
  15. ruler — a monarch
  16. jam — to spread on bread
  17. coach — pulled by horses
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. mouse — for a computer
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. lean — to bend
  22. fork — to eat with
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. mouse — the animal

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