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: hide · ruler · board · mine · can · fan · patient · wake

  1. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  2. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  3. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  4. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  5. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  6. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  7. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  8. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  12. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  13. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  14. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  15. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  16. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  17. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  18. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  19. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  20. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  21. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  22. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  23. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  24. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.

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

Answer key

  1. can — to be able to
  2. board — to get on
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. mine — an explosive
  5. board — a committee
  6. hide — animal skin
  7. hide — to keep secret
  8. mine — belonging to me
  9. can — a tin
  10. can — a tin
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. patient — a sick person
  15. mine — for digging
  16. patient — a sick person
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. wake — a trail
  19. patient — calm and waiting
  20. ruler — a monarch
  21. wake — to stop sleeping
  22. fan — to cool the air
  23. board — a flat piece
  24. wake — before a funeral

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