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. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  2. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  3. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  4. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  5. Don't do anything ________________.
  6. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  7. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  8. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  9. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  10. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  11. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  12. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  13. The ________________ took off on time.
  14. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  15. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  19. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  20. David sat on the ________________.
  21. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  22. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  23. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  24. The spa offers ________________ extensions.

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

Answer key

  1. board — a flat piece
  2. net — in sport
  3. plane — a tool
  4. plane — in geometry
  5. rash — hasty
  6. board — a committee
  7. stem — a stem cell
  8. swing — music
  9. board — to get on
  10. net — after costs
  11. stem — of a plant
  12. lash — a whip stroke
  13. plane — an aircraft
  14. lash — to lash out
  15. swing — in golf
  16. can — to be able to
  17. can — a tin
  18. rash — on the skin
  19. rash — a series
  20. swing — to play on
  21. net — for catching
  22. stem — to come from
  23. can — a tin
  24. lash — an eyelash

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