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 goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  2. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  3. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  4. I've got to change the light ________________.
  5. The ________________ went through the wall.
  6. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  7. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  8. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  9. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  12. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  13. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  14. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  15. The light ________________ burned out.
  16. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  17. The ________________ took off on time.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  22. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  23. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  24. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.

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

Answer key

  1. straw — dry grass
  2. chip — in a computer
  3. chip — for betting
  4. bulb — for light
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. plane — a tool
  7. nail — on a finger
  8. content — videos and posts
  9. bulb — of a plant
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. straw — a straw man
  12. face — part of the head
  13. chip — to eat
  14. content — the amount
  15. bulb — for light
  16. plane — in geometry
  17. plane — an aircraft
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. face — to confront
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. straw — to clutch at straws
  22. face — to point toward
  23. content — happy
  24. nail — for a hammer

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