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. When will it ________________ you to start?
  2. The ________________ took off on time.
  3. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  4. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  5. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  6. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  7. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  8. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  9. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  10. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  13. The ________________ market has crashed.
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  16. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  17. Have you settled on a ________________?
  18. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  19. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. He is an ace ________________.
  22. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  23. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  24. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — to fit
  2. plane — an aircraft
  3. plane — in geometry
  4. stock — goods
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. ruler — a monarch
  7. mine — an explosive
  8. plane — a tool
  9. mine — belonging to me
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. stock — shares
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. date — the fruit
  16. suit — clothes
  17. date — on the calendar
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. stock — a soup base
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. pitcher — in baseball
  22. date — on the calendar
  23. mine — for digging
  24. suit — in cards

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