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: fine · chip · scale · mug · hand · object · degree · pitcher

  1. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  2. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  3. Where did you ________________ them?
  4. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  5. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  6. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  7. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  8. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  9. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  10. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  11. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  12. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  13. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  14. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  15. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  16. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  17. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  18. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  19. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  20. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  21. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  22. He is an ace ________________.
  23. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — a jug
  2. degree — temperature
  3. mug — to rob
  4. hand — in cards
  5. degree — an amount
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. scale — for weighing
  8. mug — a cup
  9. hand — help
  10. object — an aim
  11. scale — in music
  12. object — to protest
  13. fine — a penalty
  14. chip — to eat
  15. object — a thing
  16. hand — part of the body
  17. chip — in a computer
  18. fine — all right
  19. fine — high quality
  20. degree — from a university
  21. chip — for betting
  22. pitcher — in baseball
  23. scale — size or range
  24. mug — a face

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