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: wound · mug · temple · board · bound · stand · ruler · date

  1. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  2. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  3. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  4. That was ________________ to happen.
  5. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  6. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  7. Have you settled on a ________________?
  8. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  9. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  10. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  11. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  12. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  13. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  14. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  15. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  16. I can't ________________ this cold.
  17. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  18. Where did you ________________ them?
  19. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  20. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  21. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  22. When was this ________________ built?
  23. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  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. stand — on your feet
  2. bound — tied together
  3. temple — side of the head
  4. bound — certain
  5. mug — a cup
  6. board — to get on
  7. date — on the calendar
  8. board — a committee
  9. wound — an injury
  10. ruler — a monarch
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. board — a flat piece
  13. date — the fruit
  14. wound — past of 'wind'
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. stand — to bear
  17. stand — for spectators
  18. mug — to rob
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. bound — obliged
  21. wound — an injury
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. date — on the calendar
  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