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 120 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: dip · firm · rash · pitcher · season · cabinet · ruler · trunk

  1. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  2. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  3. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  4. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  5. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  6. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  7. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  8. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  9. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  10. What do you think of the new ________________?
  11. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  12. He is an ace ________________.
  13. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  14. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  15. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  16. Did you ________________ the meat?
  17. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  18. Don't do anything ________________.
  19. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  20. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  21. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  22. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  23. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  24. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. trunk — of an elephant
  5. dip — to sink
  6. trunk — of a tree
  7. firm — a company
  8. season — of the year
  9. rash — on the skin
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. rash — a series
  12. pitcher — in baseball
  13. cabinet — a cupboard
  14. dip — to dunk
  15. firm — decided
  16. season — to add flavour
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. rash — hasty
  19. firm — steady
  20. trunk — of a car
  21. season — in sport
  22. ruler — a monarch
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. dip — a sauce

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