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. Don't do anything ________________.
  2. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  3. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  4. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  5. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  6. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  7. The ________________ took off on time.
  8. Have you found your soul ________________?
  9. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  10. The ________________ went through the wall.
  11. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  12. The tickets are free of ________________.
  13. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  14. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  15. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  16. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  17. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  18. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  19. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  20. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  21. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  22. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  23. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  24. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — hasty
  2. charge — in control
  3. face — to confront
  4. rash — on the skin
  5. bear — the animal
  6. mate — to breed
  7. plane — an aircraft
  8. mate — a partner
  9. plane — in geometry
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. net — for catching
  12. charge — a price
  13. net — in sport
  14. rash — a series
  15. mate — a friend
  16. face — part of the head
  17. bear — to put up with
  18. nail — on a finger
  19. charge — electricity
  20. face — to point toward
  21. bear — the animal
  22. net — after costs
  23. nail — for a hammer
  24. plane — a tool

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