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: ball · cap · charge · rule · ruler · firm · temple · calf

  1. The tickets are free of ________________.
  2. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  3. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  4. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  5. The King held a masked ________________.
  6. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  7. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  8. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  9. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  10. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  11. When was this ________________ built?
  12. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  13. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  14. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  15. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  16. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  17. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  18. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  19. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  20. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  21. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  22. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  23. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  24. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — a price
  2. rule — government
  3. ball — a round shape
  4. firm — steady
  5. ball — a dance
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. charge — electricity
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. temple — side of the head
  10. firm — a company
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. ball — a great time
  14. cap — a hat
  15. cap — of ice
  16. charge — in control
  17. rule — to rule out
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. ruler — a monarch
  20. rule — a law
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. calf — of the leg
  23. cap — a lid
  24. firm — decided

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