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. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  2. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  3. My father caught me by the ________________.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  6. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  7. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  10. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  11. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  12. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  13. The ________________ took off on time.
  14. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  15. That must've been a ________________.
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  18. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  19. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  20. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  21. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  22. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  23. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  24. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. arm — part of the body
  3. arm — part of the body
  4. can — a tin
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. rush — to hurry
  7. plane — a tool
  8. can — a tin
  9. ruler — a monarch
  10. rush — hurry
  11. branch — a division
  12. wound — an injury
  13. plane — an aircraft
  14. branch — of a tree
  15. rush — a thrill
  16. can — to be able to
  17. wound — past of 'wind'
  18. straw — to clutch at straws
  19. straw — a straw man
  20. straw — dry grass
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. arm — a part of something
  23. wound — an injury
  24. branch — of a bank

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