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 120 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. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  2. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  3. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  4. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  5. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  9. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  10. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  13. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. Where did you ________________ them?
  16. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  17. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  18. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  19. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  20. The ________________ took off on time.
  21. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  22. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  23. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  24. We had a fire ________________ at school today.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. deal — to handle
  3. mug — a cup
  4. wound — an injury
  5. drill — army training
  6. can — to be able to
  7. can — a tin
  8. vault — a safe
  9. deal — a big deal
  10. mug — a face
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. leaves — lets stay
  13. wound — an injury
  14. can — a tin
  15. mug — to rob
  16. vault — in gymnastics
  17. leaves — to go away
  18. wound — past of 'wind'
  19. drill — the tool
  20. plane — an aircraft
  21. vault — an arched ceiling
  22. deal — an agreement
  23. plane — a tool
  24. drill — a practice

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