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. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  2. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  3. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  4. This piece is in a major ________________.
  5. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  6. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  7. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  8. The ________________ went through the wall.
  9. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  10. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  11. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  12. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  13. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  14. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  15. That was ________________ to happen.
  16. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  17. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  18. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  19. False peace will not ________________.
  20. The ________________ took off on time.
  21. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  22. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  23. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  24. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?

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

Answer key

  1. bound — tied together
  2. last — final
  3. plane — a tool
  4. key — in music
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. plane — in geometry
  7. board — to get on
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. key — the most important part
  10. board — a committee
  11. last — finally
  12. nail — on a finger
  13. cap — of ice
  14. key — for a lock
  15. bound — certain
  16. lie — to recline
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. bound — obliged
  19. last — to go on
  20. plane — an aircraft
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. cap — a hat
  23. board — a flat piece
  24. cap — a lid

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