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: mark · ruler · rock · shower · bay · roll · file · jam

  1. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  2. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  3. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  4. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  5. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  6. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  7. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  8. My mare is ________________ in color.
  9. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  10. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  11. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  12. We're on a ________________ here.
  13. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  14. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  15. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  16. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  17. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  18. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  19. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  20. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  21. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  22. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  23. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  24. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — to pay attention
  2. ruler — a monarch
  3. file — a line of people
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. rock — music
  6. file — a tool
  7. mark — a grade
  8. bay — a horse colour
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. jam — a tight spot
  11. roll — a list
  12. roll — on a roll
  13. bay — to keep at bay
  14. jam — in traffic
  15. shower — to wash
  16. bay — a part of the sea
  17. jam — to spread on bread
  18. rock — to move gently
  19. file — a document
  20. roll — a cake
  21. shower — rain
  22. shower — a meteor shower
  23. rock — a stone
  24. mark — a trace

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