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. The ________________ took off on time.
  2. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  3. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  4. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  5. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  6. Did you ________________ the meat?
  7. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  8. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  9. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  10. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  11. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  12. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  13. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  14. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  15. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  16. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  17. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  18. Have you found your soul ________________?
  19. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  20. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  21. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  22. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  23. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  24. The ball hit the back of the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — an aircraft
  2. plane — in geometry
  3. net — for catching
  4. vault — in gymnastics
  5. rock — music
  6. season — to add flavour
  7. vault — a safe
  8. season — of the year
  9. rock — to move gently
  10. march — music
  11. net — after costs
  12. spring — a coil
  13. mate — to breed
  14. rock — a stone
  15. march — the month
  16. vault — an arched ceiling
  17. spring — the season
  18. mate — a partner
  19. plane — a tool
  20. spring — of water
  21. mate — a friend
  22. season — in sport
  23. march — the month
  24. net — in sport

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