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 116 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: land · bound · stand · ruler · can · pop · rock · lie

  1. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  2. That was ________________ to happen.
  3. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  4. When are we going to ________________?
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. You don't need to ________________ round.
  7. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  8. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  9. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  10. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  11. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  12. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  13. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  14. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  15. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  18. We're almost out of ________________.
  19. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  22. I can't ________________ this cold.
  23. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  24. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.

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

Answer key

  1. land — a country
  2. bound — certain
  3. bound — obliged
  4. land — to come down
  5. can — a tin
  6. pop — to visit
  7. land — ground
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. rock — a stone
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. ruler — a monarch
  13. pop — music
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. rock — music
  16. can — to be able to
  17. bound — tied together
  18. pop — soda
  19. lie — to recline
  20. can — a tin
  21. stand — for spectators
  22. stand — to bear
  23. rock — to move gently
  24. stand — on your feet

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