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. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  2. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  3. The ________________ took off on time.
  4. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  5. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  6. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  7. When will it ________________ you to start?
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  10. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  11. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  12. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  13. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  14. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  15. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  18. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  19. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  20. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  21. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  22. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  23. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  24. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.

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

Answer key

  1. board — a committee
  2. trunk — of an elephant
  3. plane — an aircraft
  4. hand — help
  5. mark — a grade
  6. plane — a tool
  7. suit — to fit
  8. can — to be able to
  9. mark — to pay attention
  10. perch — for a bird
  11. plane — in geometry
  12. perch — for a bird
  13. trunk — of a tree
  14. board — to get on
  15. mark — a trace
  16. can — a tin
  17. perch — the fish
  18. suit — in cards
  19. board — a flat piece
  20. trunk — of a car
  21. hand — in cards
  22. hand — part of the body
  23. suit — clothes
  24. can — a tin

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