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. The ________________ took off on time.
  2. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  3. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  4. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  5. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  6. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  7. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  8. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  9. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  10. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  11. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  12. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  13. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  14. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  15. Have you found your soul ________________?
  16. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  17. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  18. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  19. That was ________________ to happen.
  20. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  21. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  22. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  23. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  24. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — an aircraft
  2. board — a committee
  3. chip — for betting
  4. pound — for dogs
  5. mate — a friend
  6. plane — a tool
  7. deal — an agreement
  8. board — a flat piece
  9. plane — in geometry
  10. chip — in a computer
  11. mate — to breed
  12. hand — help
  13. bound — obliged
  14. hand — in cards
  15. mate — a partner
  16. pound — to hit hard
  17. chip — to eat
  18. bound — tied together
  19. bound — certain
  20. pound — a weight
  21. deal — to handle
  22. deal — a big deal
  23. hand — part of the body
  24. board — to get on

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