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 120 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. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  2. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  3. The ________________ took off on time.
  4. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  5. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  6. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  7. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  8. That was a fun ________________.
  9. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  10. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  11. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  12. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  13. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  14. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  15. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  16. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  17. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  18. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  19. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  20. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  21. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  22. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  23. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  24. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — a fruit stone
  2. plane — in geometry
  3. plane — an aircraft
  4. mark — to pay attention
  5. leaves — to go away
  6. leaves — of a tree
  7. scale — for weighing
  8. game — a match
  9. pass — to succeed
  10. bank — for money
  11. plane — a tool
  12. scale — in music
  13. pass — to spend time
  14. mark — a grade
  15. pass — a permit
  16. bank — of a river
  17. scale — size or range
  18. leaves — lets stay
  19. game — wild animals
  20. mark — a trace
  21. bank — for money
  22. pit — in a race
  23. pit — a hole
  24. game — a kind of play

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