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. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  2. The light ________________ burned out.
  3. The ________________ took off on time.
  4. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  5. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  6. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  7. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  8. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  9. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  10. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  11. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  12. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  13. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  14. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  15. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  16. I've got to change the light ________________.
  17. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  18. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  19. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  20. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  21. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  22. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  23. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  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. pass — to succeed
  2. bulb — for light
  3. plane — an aircraft
  4. pass — to spend time
  5. jam — in traffic
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. fall — the season
  8. lash — an eyelash
  9. lash — a whip stroke
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. plane — in geometry
  12. jam — a tight spot
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. bulb — of a plant
  15. ruler — a monarch
  16. bulb — for light
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. lie — to recline
  19. pass — a permit
  20. jam — to spread on bread
  21. fall — to drop
  22. lash — to lash out
  23. fall — to drop
  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