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: stand · cue · snap · temple · ruler · court · bound · net

  1. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  2. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  3. I can't ________________ this cold.
  4. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  5. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  6. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  7. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  8. When was this ________________ built?
  9. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  10. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  11. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  12. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  13. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  14. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  15. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  16. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  17. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  18. That was ________________ to happen.
  19. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  20. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  21. The ball is in your ________________.
  22. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  23. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  24. He took the fish out of the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. cue — a signal
  3. stand — to bear
  4. cue — for pool
  5. court — of a king
  6. net — in sport
  7. stand — on your feet
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. snap — to speak sharply
  10. ruler — a monarch
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. court — of law
  13. bound — tied together
  14. snap — to snap out of it
  15. net — after costs
  16. temple — side of the head
  17. cue — a hint
  18. bound — certain
  19. bound — obliged
  20. stand — for spectators
  21. court — for sport
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. snap — to click
  24. net — for catching

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