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 120 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 pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  2. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  3. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  4. The ________________ took off on time.
  5. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  6. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  7. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  8. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  9. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  10. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  11. I've got to change the light ________________.
  12. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  13. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  14. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  15. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  16. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  17. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. The light ________________ burned out.
  20. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. That was a fun ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. game — wild animals
  2. rock — music
  3. branch — of a tree
  4. plane — an aircraft
  5. deal — an agreement
  6. rock — a stone
  7. leaves — to go away
  8. leaves — of a tree
  9. rock — to move gently
  10. branch — a division
  11. bulb — for light
  12. deal — a big deal
  13. game — a kind of play
  14. leaves — lets stay
  15. plane — in geometry
  16. bulb — of a plant
  17. plane — a tool
  18. can — a tin
  19. bulb — for light
  20. branch — of a bank
  21. can — a tin
  22. deal — to handle
  23. can — to be able to
  24. game — a match

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