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. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  2. The King held a masked ________________.
  3. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  4. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  5. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  6. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  7. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  8. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  9. She's very handy with a ________________.
  10. When will it ________________ you to start?
  11. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  12. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  13. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  14. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  15. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  16. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  17. The ________________ took off on time.
  18. Where did you ________________ them?
  19. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  20. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  21. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  22. He works in a ________________ mill.
  23. The ball is in your ________________.
  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. ball — a great time
  2. ball — a dance
  3. face — part of the head
  4. saw — past of 'see'
  5. plane — in geometry
  6. ball — a round shape
  7. track — a song
  8. mug — a face
  9. saw — the tool
  10. suit — to fit
  11. track — a path
  12. face — to point toward
  13. court — of law
  14. suit — in cards
  15. court — of a king
  16. suit — clothes
  17. plane — an aircraft
  18. mug — to rob
  19. track — to keep track
  20. mug — a cup
  21. face — to confront
  22. saw — the tool
  23. court — for sport
  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