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 from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: plane · bulb · track · wake · cue · toast · fan · bay

  1. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  2. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  3. The ________________ took off on time.
  4. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. My mare is ________________ in color.
  7. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  8. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  9. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  10. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  11. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  12. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  13. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  14. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  15. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  16. The light ________________ burned out.
  17. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  18. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  19. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  20. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  21. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  22. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  23. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  24. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a signal
  2. toast — the most admired
  3. plane — an aircraft
  4. track — a song
  5. bulb — for light
  6. bay — a horse colour
  7. toast — bread
  8. fan — to cool the air
  9. bay — a part of the sea
  10. cue — for pool
  11. wake — before a funeral
  12. bay — to keep at bay
  13. track — a path
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. track — to keep track
  16. bulb — for light
  17. wake — to stop sleeping
  18. plane — a tool
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. bulb — of a plant
  21. cue — a hint
  22. toast — a drink to someone
  23. wake — a trail
  24. plane — in geometry

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