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. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  2. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  3. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  4. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  5. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  6. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  7. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  8. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  9. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  10. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  11. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  12. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  13. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  14. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  15. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  16. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  17. My father caught me by the ________________.
  18. How do you ________________ your surname?
  19. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  20. The ________________ took off on time.
  21. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  22. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  23. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  24. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — a sauce
  2. board — a flat piece
  3. board — to get on
  4. plane — a tool
  5. spring — the season
  6. spell — a short time
  7. spring — of water
  8. arm — a part of something
  9. dip — to dunk
  10. board — a committee
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. rule — government
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. calf — of the leg
  15. rule — to rule out
  16. dip — to sink
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. spell — letters
  19. spell — magic
  20. plane — an aircraft
  21. rule — a law
  22. plane — in geometry
  23. spring — a coil
  24. arm — part of the body

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