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 116 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. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  2. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  3. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  4. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  5. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  6. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  7. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  8. This piece is in a major ________________.
  9. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  10. I can't ________________ this cold.
  11. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  12. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  13. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  14. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  15. The ________________ took off on time.
  16. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  17. When will it ________________ you to start?
  18. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  19. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  20. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  21. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  22. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  23. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  24. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.

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

Answer key

  1. squash — the sport
  2. plane — a tool
  3. squash — the vegetable
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. file — a line of people
  6. suit — clothes
  7. file — a tool
  8. key — in music
  9. file — a document
  10. stand — to bear
  11. current — happening now
  12. stand — on your feet
  13. fan — to cool the air
  14. key — for a lock
  15. plane — an aircraft
  16. current — electric
  17. suit — to fit
  18. current — of water
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. suit — in cards
  21. key — the most important part
  22. plane — in geometry
  23. stand — for spectators
  24. squash — to crush

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