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: land · prune · snap · chip · ruler · key · pass · leaves

  1. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  2. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  3. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  4. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  5. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  6. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  7. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  8. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  9. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  10. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  11. This piece is in a major ________________.
  12. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  13. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  14. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  15. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  16. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  17. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  18. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  19. When are we going to ________________?
  20. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  21. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  22. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  23. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  24. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.

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

Answer key

  1. prune — the fruit
  2. snap — to speak sharply
  3. chip — for betting
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. key — the most important part
  6. snap — to click
  7. land — a country
  8. chip — to eat
  9. chip — in a computer
  10. key — for a lock
  11. key — in music
  12. leaves — lets stay
  13. leaves — to go away
  14. pass — a permit
  15. prune — to trim
  16. leaves — of a tree
  17. prune — to trim
  18. snap — to snap out of it
  19. land — to come down
  20. land — ground
  21. pass — to spend time
  22. ruler — a monarch
  23. pass — to succeed
  24. ruler — for measuring

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