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 all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  2. How do you ________________ your surname?
  3. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  4. What do you think of the new ________________?
  5. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  6. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  7. The ________________ took off on time.
  8. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  9. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  10. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  14. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  15. Have you met the new head ________________?
  16. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  17. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  18. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  19. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  20. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  21. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  22. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  23. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  24. He has no idea where the ________________ is.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. spell — letters
  3. spell — a short time
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. cabinet — a cupboard
  6. fan — to cool the air
  7. plane — an aircraft
  8. board — to get on
  9. hide — to keep secret
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. coach — pulled by horses
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. plane — in geometry
  17. spell — magic
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. plane — a tool
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. board — a committee
  22. board — a flat piece
  23. hide — animal skin
  24. safe — a strongbox

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