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: face · ruler · mate · fork · firm · ball · sharp · staff

  1. The King held a masked ________________.
  2. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  3. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  4. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  5. It's one o'clock ________________.
  6. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  7. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  8. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  9. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  10. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  11. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  12. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  13. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  14. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  15. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  16. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  17. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  18. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  19. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  20. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  21. Have you found your soul ________________?
  22. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  23. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  24. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a dance
  2. fork — in a road
  3. fork — to eat with
  4. face — part of the head
  5. sharp — exactly
  6. sharp — clever
  7. ball — a round shape
  8. sharp — with an edge
  9. staff — employees
  10. fork — a garden tool
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. ball — a great time
  13. mate — a friend
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. face — to confront
  16. firm — decided
  17. firm — steady
  18. staff — a stick
  19. ruler — a monarch
  20. mate — to breed
  21. mate — a partner
  22. firm — a company
  23. face — to point toward
  24. staff — employees

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