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 120 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. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  2. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  3. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  4. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  5. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  6. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  7. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  8. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  9. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  10. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  11. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  12. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  13. The ________________ took off on time.
  14. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  15. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  16. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  17. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  18. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  19. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  20. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  21. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  22. He is an ace ________________.
  23. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  24. We have nothing to ________________ here.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. rock — music
  4. hide — to keep secret
  5. wound — an injury
  6. wound — an injury
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. fan — to cool the air
  9. hide — animal skin
  10. track — a path
  11. lean — thin
  12. lean — to rest against
  13. plane — an aircraft
  14. lean — to bend
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. track — a song
  17. track — to keep track
  18. rock — a stone
  19. wound — past of 'wind'
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. plane — a tool
  22. pitcher — in baseball
  23. rock — to move gently
  24. hide — to keep secret

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