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. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  2. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  3. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. The ________________ took off on time.
  8. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  9. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  10. Have you met the new head ________________?
  11. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  12. The King held a masked ________________.
  13. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  16. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  17. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  18. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  19. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  20. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  21. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  22. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  23. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  24. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — a permit
  2. net — for catching
  3. plane — a tool
  4. can — to be able to
  5. ball — a round shape
  6. can — a tin
  7. plane — an aircraft
  8. net — in sport
  9. toast — the most admired
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. prune — to trim
  12. ball — a dance
  13. ball — a great time
  14. can — a tin
  15. toast — bread
  16. prune — to trim
  17. plane — in geometry
  18. toast — a drink to someone
  19. coach — pulled by horses
  20. net — after costs
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. prune — the fruit
  23. pass — to spend time
  24. pass — to succeed

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