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: content · scale · nail · leaves · bound · temple · ruler · press

  1. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  2. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  3. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  4. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  5. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  6. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  7. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  8. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  9. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  10. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  11. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  12. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  13. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  14. That was ________________ to happen.
  15. When was this ________________ built?
  16. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  17. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  18. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  19. Did you ________________ the button?
  20. The ________________ went through the wall.
  21. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  22. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  23. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  24. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. leaves — to go away
  3. nail — on a finger
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. content — videos and posts
  7. leaves — of a tree
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. content — happy
  10. press — a publisher
  11. bound — tied together
  12. leaves — lets stay
  13. ruler — a monarch
  14. bound — certain
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. scale — size or range
  17. bound — obliged
  18. content — the amount
  19. press — to push
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. temple — side of the head
  22. scale — for weighing
  23. scale — in music
  24. press — newspapers

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