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: jam · hand · squash · fork · dip · ruler · rock · roll

  1. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  2. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  3. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  4. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  5. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  6. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  7. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  8. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  9. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  10. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  11. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  12. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  13. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  14. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  15. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  16. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  17. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  18. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  19. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  20. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  21. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  22. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  23. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  24. We're on a ________________ here.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — a tight spot
  2. rock — to move gently
  3. hand — in cards
  4. dip — to sink
  5. jam — to spread on bread
  6. ruler — a monarch
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. rock — a stone
  9. hand — part of the body
  10. squash — the vegetable
  11. fork — in a road
  12. fork — to eat with
  13. jam — in traffic
  14. hand — help
  15. dip — a sauce
  16. fork — a garden tool
  17. roll — a cake
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. squash — the sport
  20. roll — a list
  21. dip — to dunk
  22. rock — music
  23. squash — to crush
  24. roll — on a roll

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