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. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  2. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  3. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  4. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  5. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  6. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  7. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  8. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  9. The ________________ took off on time.
  10. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  11. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  12. Don't do anything ________________.
  13. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  14. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  15. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  16. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  17. When are we going to ________________?
  18. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  19. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  20. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  21. When will it ________________ you to start?
  22. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  23. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  24. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — the animal
  2. mouse — for a computer
  3. drill — army training
  4. land — a country
  5. suit — in cards
  6. plane — in geometry
  7. rash — a series
  8. land — ground
  9. plane — an aircraft
  10. bear — to put up with
  11. suit — clothes
  12. rash — hasty
  13. toast — a drink to someone
  14. bear — the animal
  15. plane — a tool
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. land — to come down
  18. drill — a practice
  19. drill — the tool
  20. toast — bread
  21. suit — to fit
  22. rash — on the skin
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. toast — the most admired

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