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 116 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 stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  2. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  3. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  4. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  5. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  6. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  7. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  8. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  9. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  10. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  11. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  12. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  13. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  14. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  15. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  16. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  17. The ________________ took off on time.
  18. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  19. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  20. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  21. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  22. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  23. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  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. field — for sport
  2. scale — for weighing
  3. plane — a tool
  4. current — happening now
  5. staff — employees
  6. scale — size or range
  7. present — there
  8. present — the time now
  9. pass — to spend time
  10. present — a gift
  11. current — electric
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. field — farmland
  14. field — a subject
  15. scale — in music
  16. staff — employees
  17. plane — an aircraft
  18. pass — to succeed
  19. fan — to cool the air
  20. staff — a stick
  21. pass — a permit
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. current — of water
  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