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. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  4. Have you found your soul ________________?
  5. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  6. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  7. The ________________ took off on time.
  8. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  9. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  10. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  11. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  12. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  13. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  14. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  15. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  16. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  17. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  18. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  19. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  20. The tickets are free of ________________.
  21. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  22. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  23. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  24. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — electricity
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. kick — a thrill
  4. mate — a partner
  5. deal — to handle
  6. pass — a permit
  7. plane — an aircraft
  8. deal — an agreement
  9. deal — a big deal
  10. charge — in control
  11. plane — a tool
  12. mate — a friend
  13. clip — to cut
  14. board — a committee
  15. kick — with a leg
  16. mate — to breed
  17. plane — in geometry
  18. clip — for paper
  19. kick — in football
  20. charge — a price
  21. clip — a video
  22. board — a flat piece
  23. board — to get on
  24. pass — to succeed

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