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: tube · land · coach · ruler · firm · ball · track · hand

  1. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  2. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  3. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  4. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  5. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  6. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  7. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  8. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  9. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  10. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  11. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  12. Have you met the new head ________________?
  13. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  14. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  15. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  16. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  17. I'll be taking the ________________.
  18. When are we going to ________________?
  19. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  20. The King held a masked ________________.
  21. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  22. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  23. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  24. I got dealt a bad ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — a monarch
  2. tube — a container
  3. firm — a company
  4. track — a path
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. firm — decided
  8. coach — pulled by horses
  9. hand — help
  10. firm — steady
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. land — a country
  14. track — a song
  15. ball — a great time
  16. hand — part of the body
  17. tube — the underground
  18. land — to come down
  19. track — to keep track
  20. ball — a dance
  21. tube — in a tire
  22. land — ground
  23. ball — a round shape
  24. hand — in cards

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