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. The ________________ took off on time.
  2. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  3. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  4. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  5. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  6. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  7. The ________________ went through the wall.
  8. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  9. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  10. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  11. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  12. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  13. It's one o'clock ________________.
  14. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  15. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  16. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  17. I've got to change the light ________________.
  18. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  19. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  20. The light ________________ burned out.
  21. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  22. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  23. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  24. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — an aircraft
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. bulb — of a plant
  4. stick — a piece of wood
  5. sharp — with an edge
  6. pass — to succeed
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. board — a committee
  9. wound — past of 'wind'
  10. wound — an injury
  11. stick — to attach or keep to
  12. board — a flat piece
  13. sharp — exactly
  14. nail — on a finger
  15. stick — a piece of wood
  16. board — to get on
  17. bulb — for light
  18. pass — to spend time
  19. sharp — clever
  20. bulb — for light
  21. pass — a permit
  22. wound — an injury
  23. plane — in geometry
  24. plane — a tool

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