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 120 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: mug · mouse · last · ruler · ball · trunk · hand · firm

  1. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  2. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  3. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  4. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  5. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  6. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  7. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  8. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  9. False peace will not ________________.
  10. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  11. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  12. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  13. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  14. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  15. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  16. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  17. The King held a masked ________________.
  18. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  19. Where did you ________________ them?
  20. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  21. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  22. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  23. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  24. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a great time
  2. trunk — of an elephant
  3. hand — in cards
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. firm — decided
  6. mug — a face
  7. ruler — a monarch
  8. trunk — of a car
  9. last — to go on
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. last — finally
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. hand — help
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. last — final
  16. trunk — of a tree
  17. ball — a dance
  18. firm — a company
  19. mug — to rob
  20. hand — part of the body
  21. mug — a cup
  22. ball — a round shape
  23. mouse — for a computer
  24. firm — steady

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