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: stem · bound · bank · plane · ball · mate · can · wax

  1. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  6. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  7. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  8. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  9. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  10. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  11. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  12. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  13. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  14. The ________________ took off on time.
  15. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  16. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  17. The King held a masked ________________.
  18. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  19. That was ________________ to happen.
  20. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  21. Have you found your soul ________________?
  22. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  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. bound — tied together
  2. can — a tin
  3. wax — for sculpting
  4. can — a tin
  5. wax — in the ear
  6. bound — obliged
  7. plane — a tool
  8. mate — to breed
  9. ball — a round shape
  10. stem — to come from
  11. mate — a friend
  12. bank — of a river
  13. ball — a great time
  14. plane — an aircraft
  15. stem — a stem cell
  16. stem — of a plant
  17. ball — a dance
  18. wax — to grow
  19. bound — certain
  20. bank — for money
  21. mate — a partner
  22. bank — for money
  23. can — to be able to
  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