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. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  2. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  3. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  4. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  5. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  6. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  7. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  8. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  9. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  10. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  11. Have you found your soul ________________?
  12. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  13. He is an ace ________________.
  14. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  15. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  16. The ________________ took off on time.
  17. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  18. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  19. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  20. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  21. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  22. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  23. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  24. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — in music
  2. row — to paddle
  3. content — the amount
  4. plane — in geometry
  5. rock — to move gently
  6. mate — a friend
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. rock — music
  9. scale — for weighing
  10. mate — to breed
  11. mate — a partner
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. pitcher — in baseball
  14. toast — bread
  15. rock — a stone
  16. plane — an aircraft
  17. scale — size or range
  18. toast — the most admired
  19. toast — a drink to someone
  20. row — a quarrel
  21. content — happy
  22. row — a line
  23. plane — a tool
  24. content — videos and posts

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