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: rule · squash · stick · ground · rush · hand · coach · fan

  1. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  2. There's no middle ________________.
  3. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  4. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  5. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  6. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  7. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  8. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  9. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  10. That must've been a ________________.
  11. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  12. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  13. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  14. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  15. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  16. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  17. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  18. Have you met the new head ________________?
  19. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  20. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  21. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  22. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  23. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  24. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.

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

Answer key

  1. fan — a supporter
  2. ground — a position
  3. fan — to cool the air
  4. squash — the sport
  5. ground — crushed
  6. hand — part of the body
  7. stick — to attach or keep to
  8. squash — the vegetable
  9. ground — the earth
  10. rush — a thrill
  11. stick — a piece of wood
  12. rule — government
  13. rush — hurry
  14. rule — a law
  15. coach — pulled by horses
  16. rush — to hurry
  17. hand — in cards
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. stick — a piece of wood
  20. hand — help
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. squash — to crush
  24. rule — to rule out

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