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. The ________________ took off on time.
  2. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  3. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  4. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  5. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  6. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  7. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  8. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  9. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  10. He works in a ________________ mill.
  11. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  12. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  13. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  14. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  15. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  16. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  17. That must've been a ________________.
  18. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  19. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  20. She's very handy with a ________________.
  21. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  22. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  23. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  24. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — an aircraft
  2. plane — a tool
  3. trunk — of a car
  4. saw — past of 'see'
  5. bear — the animal
  6. band — a ring
  7. band — a rubber band
  8. lash — to lash out
  9. lash — an eyelash
  10. saw — the tool
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. rush — to hurry
  13. bear — the animal
  14. rush — hurry
  15. trunk — of a tree
  16. bear — to put up with
  17. rush — a thrill
  18. ruler — a monarch
  19. trunk — of an elephant
  20. saw — the tool
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. lash — a whip stroke
  23. band — a music group
  24. plane — in geometry

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