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. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  2. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  3. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  4. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  5. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  6. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  7. The ________________ took off on time.
  8. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  9. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  10. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  11. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  12. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  13. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  14. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  15. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  16. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  17. We're almost out of ________________.
  18. Where did you ________________ them?
  19. Have you met the new head ________________?
  20. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  21. You don't need to ________________ round.
  22. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  23. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  24. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — with your hand
  2. present — there
  3. drill — army training
  4. coach — pulled by horses
  5. present — the time now
  6. present — a gift
  7. plane — an aircraft
  8. pop — music
  9. plane — a tool
  10. toast — a drink to someone
  11. wave — of the sea
  12. drill — a practice
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. mug — a cup
  15. mug — a face
  16. toast — bread
  17. pop — soda
  18. mug — to rob
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. wave — a sudden rise
  21. pop — to visit
  22. plane — in geometry
  23. drill — the tool
  24. toast — the most admired

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