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 116 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 · stand · spell · mouse · branch · leaves · face · fall

  1. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  2. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  3. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  4. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  5. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  6. I can't ________________ this cold.
  7. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  8. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  9. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  10. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. How do you ________________ your surname?
  13. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  14. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  15. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  16. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  17. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  18. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  19. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  20. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  21. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  22. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  23. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  24. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. branch — a division
  4. fall — to drop
  5. face — to point toward
  6. stand — to bear
  7. fall — to drop
  8. leaves — to go away
  9. spell — a short time
  10. face — part of the head
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. spell — letters
  13. face — to confront
  14. stand — on your feet
  15. stand — for spectators
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. mouse — for a computer
  18. branch — of a bank
  19. branch — of a tree
  20. ruler — a monarch
  21. leaves — lets stay
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. spell — magic
  24. fall — the season

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