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. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  2. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  3. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  4. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  5. When are we going to ________________?
  6. The King held a masked ________________.
  7. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  8. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  9. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  10. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  11. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  12. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  13. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  14. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  15. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  16. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  17. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  18. That was ________________ to happen.
  19. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  20. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  21. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  22. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  23. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  24. The ________________ took off on time.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a grade
  2. drill — army training
  3. cap — of ice
  4. bound — tied together
  5. land — to come down
  6. ball — a dance
  7. plane — in geometry
  8. mark — a trace
  9. bound — obliged
  10. ball — a round shape
  11. drill — the tool
  12. cap — a lid
  13. bowl — a football final
  14. land — a country
  15. plane — a tool
  16. drill — a practice
  17. land — ground
  18. bound — certain
  19. mark — to pay attention
  20. ball — a great time
  21. bowl — a dish
  22. bowl — to roll
  23. cap — a hat
  24. plane — an aircraft

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