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: bay · plane · lash · track · date · rash · prune · fork

  1. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  2. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  3. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  4. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  5. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  6. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  7. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  8. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  9. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  10. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  11. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  12. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  13. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  14. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  15. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  16. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  17. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  18. Don't do anything ________________.
  19. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  20. The ________________ took off on time.
  21. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  22. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  23. Have you settled on a ________________?
  24. My mare is ________________ in color.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. prune — to trim
  3. prune — the fruit
  4. rash — a series
  5. track — a path
  6. lash — a whip stroke
  7. plane — a tool
  8. bay — to keep at bay
  9. fork — in a road
  10. date — the fruit
  11. prune — to trim
  12. track — a song
  13. rash — on the skin
  14. track — to keep track
  15. lash — to lash out
  16. lash — an eyelash
  17. bay — a part of the sea
  18. rash — hasty
  19. fork — a garden tool
  20. plane — an aircraft
  21. date — on the calendar
  22. fork — to eat with
  23. date — on the calendar
  24. bay — a horse colour

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