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 ________________ took off on time.
  2. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  3. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  4. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  5. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  6. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  7. I'll be taking the ________________.
  8. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  9. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  10. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  11. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  12. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  13. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  14. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  15. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  16. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  17. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  18. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  19. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  20. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  21. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  22. My mare is ________________ in color.
  23. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. plane — an aircraft
  2. mine — for digging
  3. track — to keep track
  4. track — a song
  5. bay — to keep at bay
  6. plane — a tool
  7. tube — the underground
  8. tube — in a tire
  9. rock — a stone
  10. firm — decided
  11. bank — for money
  12. mine — belonging to me
  13. tube — a container
  14. track — a path
  15. firm — a company
  16. mine — an explosive
  17. firm — steady
  18. bank — for money
  19. plane — in geometry
  20. rock — to move gently
  21. bay — a part of the sea
  22. bay — a horse colour
  23. bank — of a river
  24. rock — music

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