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. We're on a ________________ here.
  2. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  3. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  4. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  5. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  6. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  7. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  8. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  9. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  10. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  11. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  12. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  13. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  14. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  15. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  16. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  17. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  18. How do you ________________ your surname?
  19. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  20. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  21. The ________________ took off on time.
  22. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  23. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  24. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. roll — on a roll
  2. club — a group
  3. plane — a tool
  4. plane — in geometry
  5. club — for golf
  6. leaves — of a tree
  7. roll — a cake
  8. pitch — completely
  9. pitch — a sales talk
  10. mark — to pay attention
  11. snap — to snap out of it
  12. spell — a short time
  13. mark — a grade
  14. snap — to speak sharply
  15. leaves — to go away
  16. snap — to click
  17. leaves — lets stay
  18. spell — letters
  19. mark — a trace
  20. club — for dancing
  21. plane — an aircraft
  22. roll — a list
  23. pitch — a sports field
  24. spell — magic

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