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 116 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 carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  2. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  3. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  4. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  5. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  6. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  7. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  8. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  9. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  10. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  11. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  12. Did you ________________ the meat?
  13. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  14. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  15. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  16. How do you ________________ your surname?
  17. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  18. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  19. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  20. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  21. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  22. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  23. The ________________ took off on time.
  24. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — a tool
  2. season — of the year
  3. stem — to come from
  4. stem — a stem cell
  5. lash — a whip stroke
  6. plane — in geometry
  7. band — a rubber band
  8. lash — an eyelash
  9. wax — to grow
  10. band — a music group
  11. spell — a short time
  12. season — to add flavour
  13. wax — in the ear
  14. lash — to lash out
  15. spell — magic
  16. spell — letters
  17. wake — to stop sleeping
  18. wax — for sculpting
  19. wake — before a funeral
  20. season — in sport
  21. wake — a trail
  22. stem — of a plant
  23. plane — an aircraft
  24. band — a ring

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