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 in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  2. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  3. The ________________ took off on time.
  4. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  5. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  6. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  7. That was a fun ________________.
  8. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  9. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  10. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  11. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  12. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  13. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  14. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  15. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  16. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  17. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  18. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  19. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  20. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  21. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  22. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  23. Have you found your soul ________________?
  24. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — in a race
  2. fan — to cool the air
  3. plane — an aircraft
  4. firm — decided
  5. rest — what's left
  6. rock — to move gently
  7. game — a match
  8. game — wild animals
  9. firm — steady
  10. mate — a friend
  11. plane — a tool
  12. rest — a break
  13. firm — a company
  14. plane — in geometry
  15. pit — a hole
  16. game — a kind of play
  17. rock — music
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. pit — a fruit stone
  21. mate — to breed
  22. rock — a stone
  23. mate — a partner
  24. rest — what's left

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