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. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  2. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  3. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  4. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  5. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  6. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  7. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  8. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  9. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  10. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  11. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  12. I'll be taking the ________________.
  13. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  14. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  15. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  16. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  17. The ________________ took off on time.
  18. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  19. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  20. The King held a masked ________________.
  21. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  22. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  23. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  24. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.

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

Answer key

  1. tube — a container
  2. content — videos and posts
  3. content — the amount
  4. plane — in geometry
  5. deal — to handle
  6. wound — past of 'wind'
  7. wound — an injury
  8. toast — a drink to someone
  9. toast — the most admired
  10. deal — a big deal
  11. club — for dancing
  12. tube — the underground
  13. wound — an injury
  14. club — for golf
  15. ball — a round shape
  16. toast — bread
  17. plane — an aircraft
  18. plane — a tool
  19. content — happy
  20. ball — a dance
  21. tube — in a tire
  22. deal — an agreement
  23. ball — a great time
  24. club — a group

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