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. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  2. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  3. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  4. Have you settled on a ________________?
  5. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  6. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  7. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  8. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  9. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  10. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  11. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  12. What do you think of the new ________________?
  13. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  14. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  15. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  16. The ________________ took off on time.
  17. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  18. That must've been a ________________.
  19. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  20. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  21. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  22. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  23. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  24. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.

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

Answer key

  1. band — a music group
  2. plane — in geometry
  3. hide — to keep secret
  4. date — on the calendar
  5. fine — all right
  6. hide — to keep secret
  7. fine — a penalty
  8. date — on the calendar
  9. plane — a tool
  10. cabinet — a cupboard
  11. rush — hurry
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. rush — to hurry
  15. lash — an eyelash
  16. plane — an aircraft
  17. band — a rubber band
  18. rush — a thrill
  19. lash — to lash out
  20. date — the fruit
  21. band — a ring
  22. lash — a whip stroke
  23. fine — high quality
  24. hide — animal skin

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