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. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  2. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  3. The ________________ took off on time.
  4. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  5. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  6. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  7. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  8. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  9. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  10. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  11. It's one o'clock ________________.
  12. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  13. He is an ace ________________.
  14. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  15. The tickets are free of ________________.
  16. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  17. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  18. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  19. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  20. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  21. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  22. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  23. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  24. The moon will ________________ and wane.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — a big deal
  2. plane — in geometry
  3. plane — an aircraft
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. wax — in the ear
  6. pass — a permit
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. deal — an agreement
  9. racket — for tennis
  10. racket — for tennis
  11. sharp — exactly
  12. pass — to succeed
  13. pitcher — in baseball
  14. pass — to spend time
  15. charge — a price
  16. racket — a loud noise
  17. deal — to handle
  18. charge — in control
  19. sharp — with an edge
  20. sharp — clever
  21. wax — for sculpting
  22. plane — a tool
  23. charge — electricity
  24. wax — to grow

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