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. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  2. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  3. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  4. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  5. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  6. The ________________ took off on time.
  7. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  8. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  9. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  10. What do you think of the new ________________?
  11. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  12. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  13. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  14. The ________________ went through the wall.
  15. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  16. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  17. Where did you ________________ them?
  18. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  19. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  20. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  21. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  22. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  23. The ________________ market has crashed.
  24. She's sitting on a gold ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. mine — an explosive
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. plane — a tool
  5. capital — money
  6. plane — an aircraft
  7. stock — goods
  8. capital — a big letter
  9. lash — a whip stroke
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. nail — on a finger
  12. stock — a soup base
  13. cabinet — a cupboard
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. lash — to lash out
  16. capital — a city
  17. mug — to rob
  18. lash — an eyelash
  19. mine — belonging to me
  20. mug — a face
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. mug — a cup
  23. stock — shares
  24. mine — for digging

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