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. That must've been a ________________.
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  4. The ________________ went through the wall.
  5. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  6. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  7. Don't do anything ________________.
  8. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  9. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  12. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  13. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  14. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  15. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  16. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  17. The ________________ took off on time.
  18. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  19. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  22. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  23. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  24. Take your time. There's no ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — a thrill
  2. can — a tin
  3. rush — to hurry
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. nail — on a finger
  6. file — a line of people
  7. rash — hasty
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. file — a tool
  10. can — to be able to
  11. squash — the sport
  12. squash — to crush
  13. plane — a tool
  14. squash — the vegetable
  15. file — a document
  16. plane — in geometry
  17. plane — an aircraft
  18. rash — a series
  19. pass — a permit
  20. can — a tin
  21. pass — to spend time
  22. pass — to succeed
  23. rash — on the skin
  24. rush — hurry

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