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 120 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: coach · ruler · rush · leaves · hide · pit · bowl · fan

  1. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  2. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  3. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  4. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  5. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  6. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  7. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  8. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  9. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  10. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  11. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  12. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  13. Have you met the new head ________________?
  14. That must've been a ________________.
  15. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  16. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  17. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  18. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  19. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  20. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  21. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  22. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  23. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  24. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.

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

Answer key

  1. fan — to cool the air
  2. rush — hurry
  3. bowl — a dish
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. rush — to hurry
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. pit — a hole
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. hide — to keep secret
  10. leaves — to go away
  11. bowl — a football final
  12. coach — pulled by horses
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. rush — a thrill
  15. bowl — to roll
  16. leaves — of a tree
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. ruler — a monarch
  19. pit — in a race
  20. leaves — lets stay
  21. hide — animal skin
  22. pit — a fruit stone
  23. hide — to keep secret
  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