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: stand · roll · net · toast · mouse · fall · saw · ruler

  1. He works in a ________________ mill.
  2. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  3. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  4. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  5. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  6. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  7. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  8. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  9. She's very handy with a ________________.
  10. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  11. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  12. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  13. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  14. I can't ________________ this cold.
  15. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  16. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  17. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  18. We're on a ________________ here.
  19. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  20. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  21. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  22. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  23. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  24. The people resisted their cruel ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. toast — the most admired
  3. net — in sport
  4. toast — a drink to someone
  5. stand — for spectators
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. mouse — for a computer
  8. stand — on your feet
  9. saw — the tool
  10. net — for catching
  11. roll — a cake
  12. saw — past of 'see'
  13. roll — a list
  14. stand — to bear
  15. net — after costs
  16. fall — to drop
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. roll — on a roll
  19. fall — the season
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. fall — to drop
  23. toast — bread
  24. ruler — a monarch

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