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. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  2. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  3. The ________________ took off on time.
  4. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  5. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  8. When will it ________________ you to start?
  9. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  10. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  13. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  14. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  15. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  16. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  17. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  18. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. He is an ace ________________.
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.

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

Answer key

  1. face — to confront
  2. face — part of the head
  3. plane — an aircraft
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. suit — clothes
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. plane — in geometry
  8. suit — to fit
  9. fall — the season
  10. file — a tool
  11. can — to be able to
  12. file — a document
  13. file — a line of people
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. fall — to drop
  17. suit — in cards
  18. plane — a tool
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. face — to point toward
  21. can — a tin
  22. pitcher — in baseball
  23. can — a tin
  24. fall — to drop

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