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: ruler · track · press · bear · spring · rule · calf · charge

  1. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  2. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  3. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  4. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  5. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  6. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  7. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  8. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  9. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  10. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  11. Did you ________________ the button?
  12. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  13. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  14. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  15. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  16. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  17. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  18. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  19. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  20. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  21. The tickets are free of ________________.
  22. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  23. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  24. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.

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

Answer key

  1. spring — a coil
  2. bear — to put up with
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. press — a publisher
  5. track — a song
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. ruler — a monarch
  8. calf — of the leg
  9. rule — to rule out
  10. track — to keep track
  11. press — to push
  12. rule — a law
  13. bear — the animal
  14. charge — electricity
  15. spring — of water
  16. spring — the season
  17. track — a path
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. bear — the animal
  21. charge — a price
  22. rule — government
  23. charge — in control
  24. press — newspapers

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