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 116 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: march · charge · season · lie · tube · rash · squash · ruler

  1. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  2. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  3. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  4. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  5. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  6. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  7. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  8. Don't do anything ________________.
  9. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  10. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  11. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  12. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  13. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  14. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  15. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  16. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  17. I'll be taking the ________________.
  18. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  19. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  20. Did you ________________ the meat?
  21. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  22. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  23. The tickets are free of ________________.
  24. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — to recline
  2. charge — in control
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. tube — a container
  5. squash — the sport
  6. squash — to crush
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. rash — hasty
  9. tube — in a tire
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. season — in sport
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. charge — electricity
  14. rash — a series
  15. season — of the year
  16. march — the month
  17. tube — the underground
  18. march — music
  19. ruler — a monarch
  20. season — to add flavour
  21. march — the month
  22. rash — on the skin
  23. charge — a price
  24. squash — the vegetable

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