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: season · wave · ball · ruler · degree · bore · rest · pitcher

  1. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  3. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  4. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  5. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  6. He is an ace ________________.
  7. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  8. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  9. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  10. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  11. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  12. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  13. Did you ________________ the meat?
  14. The King held a masked ________________.
  15. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  16. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  17. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  18. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  19. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  20. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  21. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  22. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  23. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  24. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. bore — to drill
  3. rest — a break
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. wave — a sudden rise
  6. pitcher — in baseball
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. season — in sport
  9. degree — temperature
  10. rest — what's left
  11. rest — what's left
  12. wave — of the sea
  13. season — to add flavour
  14. ball — a dance
  15. ruler — a monarch
  16. degree — from a university
  17. ball — a round shape
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. bore — gave birth
  20. bore — to tire
  21. season — of the year
  22. wave — with your hand
  23. ball — a great time
  24. degree — an amount

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