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 got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  2. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  3. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  4. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  5. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  6. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  7. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  8. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  9. The ________________ took off on time.
  10. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  11. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  12. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  13. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  14. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  15. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  16. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  17. He works in a ________________ mill.
  18. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  19. She's very handy with a ________________.
  20. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  21. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  22. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  23. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  24. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — a penalty
  2. rock — to move gently
  3. drill — army training
  4. straw — a straw man
  5. board — to get on
  6. straw — dry grass
  7. fine — all right
  8. bowl — a football final
  9. plane — an aircraft
  10. drill — the tool
  11. board — a flat piece
  12. saw — past of 'see'
  13. drill — a practice
  14. plane — in geometry
  15. bowl — a dish
  16. fine — high quality
  17. saw — the tool
  18. plane — a tool
  19. saw — the tool
  20. rock — a stone
  21. straw — to clutch at straws
  22. bowl — to roll
  23. rock — music
  24. board — a committee

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