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. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  2. The ________________ took off on time.
  3. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  4. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  5. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  6. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  7. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  8. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  9. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  10. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  11. It's one o'clock ________________.
  12. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  13. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  14. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  15. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  16. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  17. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  18. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  19. Did you ________________ the button?
  20. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  21. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  22. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  23. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  24. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — a whip stroke
  2. plane — an aircraft
  3. pitch — completely
  4. plane — in geometry
  5. press — a publisher
  6. sharp — clever
  7. calf — of the leg
  8. racket — for tennis
  9. pitch — a sales talk
  10. sharp — with an edge
  11. sharp — exactly
  12. plane — a tool
  13. racket — for tennis
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. lash — an eyelash
  16. cap — a lid
  17. pitch — a sports field
  18. cap — a hat
  19. press — to push
  20. cap — of ice
  21. press — newspapers
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. lash — to lash out
  24. racket — a loud noise

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