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 was blown up by a land ________________.
  2. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  3. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  4. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  7. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  8. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  9. I can't ________________ this cold.
  10. The ________________ took off on time.
  11. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  12. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  15. The ________________ went through the wall.
  16. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  17. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  18. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  19. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  20. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  21. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  22. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  23. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  24. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.

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

Answer key

  1. mine — an explosive
  2. net — for catching
  3. rule — a law
  4. plane — a tool
  5. can — a tin
  6. stand — for spectators
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. mine — belonging to me
  9. stand — to bear
  10. plane — an aircraft
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. lie — to recline
  13. can — to be able to
  14. net — in sport
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. rule — government
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. mine — for digging
  19. net — after costs
  20. plane — in geometry
  21. stand — on your feet
  22. rule — to rule out
  23. nail — on a finger
  24. can — a tin

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