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: ruler · hide · pop · temple · court · deal · fine · row

  1. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  2. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  3. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  4. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  5. You don't need to ________________ round.
  6. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  7. We're almost out of ________________.
  8. When was this ________________ built?
  9. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  10. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  11. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  12. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  13. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  14. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  15. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  16. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  17. The ball is in your ________________.
  18. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  19. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  20. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  21. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  22. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  23. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  24. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — to handle
  2. row — a quarrel
  3. hide — to keep secret
  4. fine — a penalty
  5. pop — to visit
  6. pop — music
  7. pop — soda
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. hide — to keep secret
  10. row — a line
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. hide — animal skin
  13. temple — side of the head
  14. ruler — a monarch
  15. deal — a big deal
  16. fine — high quality
  17. court — for sport
  18. court — of a king
  19. fine — all right
  20. court — of law
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. row — to paddle
  24. deal — an agreement

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