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. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  2. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  3. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  4. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  5. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  6. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  7. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  8. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  9. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  10. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  11. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  12. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  13. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  14. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  15. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  16. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  17. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  18. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  19. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  20. The ________________ took off on time.
  21. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  22. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  23. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  24. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fan — to cool the air
  2. plane — a tool
  3. pass — to spend time
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. current — happening now
  6. net — for catching
  7. pass — a permit
  8. hide — to keep secret
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. mouse — for a computer
  11. net — after costs
  12. pass — to succeed
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. board — to get on
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. hide — to keep secret
  17. board — a flat piece
  18. current — of water
  19. hide — animal skin
  20. plane — an aircraft
  21. current — electric
  22. net — in sport
  23. board — a committee
  24. plane — in geometry

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