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. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  2. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  3. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  4. We're on a ________________ here.
  5. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  6. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  7. The King held a masked ________________.
  8. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  9. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  10. He is an ace ________________.
  11. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  12. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  13. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  14. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  15. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  16. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  17. The ________________ took off on time.
  18. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  19. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  20. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  21. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  22. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  23. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  24. Fill up this ________________ with water.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. ball — a round shape
  3. club — a group
  4. roll — on a roll
  5. toast — a drink to someone
  6. plane — a tool
  7. ball — a dance
  8. shower — to wash
  9. roll — a cake
  10. pitcher — in baseball
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. roll — a list
  13. club — for golf
  14. craft — a skill
  15. ball — a great time
  16. toast — the most admired
  17. plane — an aircraft
  18. toast — bread
  19. craft — boats
  20. craft — a handicraft
  21. shower — a meteor shower
  22. shower — rain
  23. club — for dancing
  24. pitcher — a jug

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