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 116 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's taking a ________________ right now.
  3. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  4. This piece is in a major ________________.
  5. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  6. The ________________ took off on time.
  7. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  8. The light ________________ burned out.
  9. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  10. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  11. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  12. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  13. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  14. How do you ________________ your surname?
  15. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  16. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  17. I've got to change the light ________________.
  18. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  19. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  20. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  21. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  22. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  23. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  24. Biology is a ________________ of science.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. shower — to wash
  3. bulb — of a plant
  4. key — in music
  5. wound — an injury
  6. plane — an aircraft
  7. wound — past of 'wind'
  8. bulb — for light
  9. bank — of a river
  10. branch — of a bank
  11. key — for a lock
  12. shower — rain
  13. bank — for money
  14. spell — letters
  15. branch — of a tree
  16. spell — a short time
  17. bulb — for light
  18. key — the most important part
  19. spell — magic
  20. shower — a meteor shower
  21. wound — an injury
  22. plane — a tool
  23. bank — for money
  24. branch — a division

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