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: cap · hand · ball · pound · ruler · bore · board · rule

  1. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  2. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  3. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  4. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  5. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  6. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  7. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  8. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  9. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  10. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  11. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  12. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  13. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  14. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  15. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  16. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  17. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  18. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  19. The King held a masked ________________.
  20. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  21. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  22. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  23. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  24. The kitten curled into a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. hand — help
  2. cap — a lid
  3. ruler — a monarch
  4. bore — to drill
  5. cap — of ice
  6. ball — a great time
  7. board — to get on
  8. pound — for dogs
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. rule — government
  11. board — a committee
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. board — a flat piece
  14. pound — a weight
  15. rule — to rule out
  16. bore — gave birth
  17. hand — in cards
  18. cap — a hat
  19. ball — a dance
  20. pound — to hit hard
  21. hand — part of the body
  22. rule — a law
  23. bore — to tire
  24. ball — a round shape

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