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. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  2. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  3. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  4. The ________________ took off on time.
  5. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  6. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  7. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  8. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  9. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  10. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  11. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  12. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  13. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  14. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  15. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  16. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  17. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  18. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  19. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  20. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  21. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  22. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  23. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  24. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.

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

Answer key

  1. board — a flat piece
  2. plane — a tool
  3. staff — employees
  4. plane — an aircraft
  5. capital — a city
  6. prune — to trim
  7. cap — a lid
  8. board — a committee
  9. firm — steady
  10. capital — money
  11. staff — employees
  12. staff — a stick
  13. firm — decided
  14. rock — music
  15. rock — a stone
  16. plane — in geometry
  17. rock — to move gently
  18. prune — to trim
  19. board — to get on
  20. cap — of ice
  21. prune — the fruit
  22. firm — a company
  23. capital — a big letter
  24. cap — a hat

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