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. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  3. My father caught me by the ________________.
  4. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  5. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  6. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  7. The ________________ took off on time.
  8. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  9. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  10. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  11. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  12. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  13. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  14. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  15. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  16. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  17. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  18. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  19. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  20. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  21. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  22. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  23. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  24. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. branch — of a tree
  3. arm — part of the body
  4. leaves — to go away
  5. bat — in an idiom
  6. spring — of water
  7. plane — an aircraft
  8. bore — to drill
  9. bore — gave birth
  10. branch — a division
  11. bore — to tire
  12. bat — the animal
  13. leaves — of a tree
  14. spring — a coil
  15. bat — for baseball
  16. spring — the season
  17. current — happening now
  18. arm — part of the body
  19. current — of water
  20. branch — of a bank
  21. leaves — lets stay
  22. current — electric
  23. arm — a part of something
  24. plane — a tool

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