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. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  2. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  3. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  4. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  5. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  6. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  7. We're on a ________________ here.
  8. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  9. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  10. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  13. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  14. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  15. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  16. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  20. The ________________ took off on time.
  21. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  22. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  23. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  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. bass — low music
  2. chip — in a computer
  3. roll — a cake
  4. kick — with a leg
  5. fan — to cool the air
  6. chip — to eat
  7. roll — on a roll
  8. plane — in geometry
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. roll — a list
  11. can — to be able to
  12. chip — for betting
  13. bass — the instrument
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. pass — to spend time
  16. pass — a permit
  17. can — a tin
  18. can — a tin
  19. plane — a tool
  20. plane — an aircraft
  21. kick — in football
  22. bass — the fish
  23. kick — a thrill
  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