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 · degree · dip · pit · spell · pitcher · press · deal

  1. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  3. How do you ________________ your surname?
  4. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  5. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  6. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  7. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  8. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  9. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  10. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  11. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  12. Did you ________________ the button?
  13. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  14. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  15. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  16. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  17. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  18. He is an ace ________________.
  19. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  20. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  21. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  22. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  23. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  24. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. dip — a sauce
  3. spell — letters
  4. ruler — a monarch
  5. press — newspapers
  6. degree — from a university
  7. deal — to handle
  8. pit — in a race
  9. dip — to sink
  10. pit — a hole
  11. spell — magic
  12. press — to push
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. degree — temperature
  15. spell — a short time
  16. deal — a big deal
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. pitcher — in baseball
  19. press — a publisher
  20. pit — a fruit stone
  21. deal — an agreement
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. dip — to dunk
  24. degree — an amount

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