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 all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  2. It's one o'clock ________________.
  3. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  4. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  5. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  6. Did you ________________ the meat?
  7. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  8. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  9. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  10. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  11. The ________________ took off on time.
  12. What do you think of the new ________________?
  13. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  14. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  15. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  16. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  17. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  18. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  19. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  20. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  21. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  22. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  23. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. sharp — exactly
  3. plane — in geometry
  4. cabinet — a cupboard
  5. current — electric
  6. season — to add flavour
  7. current — of water
  8. wax — in the ear
  9. fork — a garden tool
  10. plane — a tool
  11. plane — an aircraft
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. wax — for sculpting
  14. season — of the year
  15. rock — to move gently
  16. fork — to eat with
  17. current — happening now
  18. sharp — clever
  19. season — in sport
  20. fork — in a road
  21. sharp — with an edge
  22. wax — to grow
  23. rock — a stone
  24. rock — music

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