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: sharp · key · squash · scale · file · deal · ruler · track

  1. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. It's one o'clock ________________.
  3. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  4. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  5. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  6. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  7. This piece is in a major ________________.
  8. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  9. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  10. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  11. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  12. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  13. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  14. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  15. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  16. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  17. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  18. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  19. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  20. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  21. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  22. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  23. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  24. This knife is not ________________ enough.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. sharp — exactly
  3. deal — a big deal
  4. scale — size or range
  5. file — a document
  6. scale — in music
  7. key — in music
  8. key — for a lock
  9. track — a path
  10. ruler — a monarch
  11. track — to keep track
  12. deal — to handle
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. key — the most important part
  15. sharp — clever
  16. scale — for weighing
  17. file — a line of people
  18. file — a tool
  19. squash — the vegetable
  20. squash — the sport
  21. track — a song
  22. deal — an agreement
  23. squash — to crush
  24. sharp — with an edge

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