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: rule · ball · plane · saw · cap · arm · tube · nail

  1. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  2. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  3. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  4. He works in a ________________ mill.
  5. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  6. My father caught me by the ________________.
  7. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  8. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  9. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  10. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  11. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  12. The ________________ went through the wall.
  13. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  14. The ________________ took off on time.
  15. I'll be taking the ________________.
  16. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  17. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  18. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  19. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  20. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  21. She's very handy with a ________________.
  22. The King held a masked ________________.
  23. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  24. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.

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

Answer key

  1. rule — government
  2. arm — part of the body
  3. ball — a round shape
  4. saw — the tool
  5. rule — to rule out
  6. arm — part of the body
  7. rule — a law
  8. cap — a lid
  9. tube — a container
  10. plane — in geometry
  11. ball — a great time
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. cap — a hat
  14. plane — an aircraft
  15. tube — the underground
  16. tube — in a tire
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. nail — on a finger
  19. saw — past of 'see'
  20. cap — of ice
  21. saw — the tool
  22. ball — a dance
  23. arm — a part of something
  24. plane — a tool

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