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: can · plane · cue · leaves · pound · charge · chest · net

  1. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  2. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  4. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  5. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  8. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  9. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  10. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  11. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  12. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  15. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  16. The ________________ took off on time.
  17. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  18. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  19. The tickets are free of ________________.
  20. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  23. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  24. He took the fish out of the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — a tool
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. pound — for dogs
  4. net — after costs
  5. chest — a box
  6. can — a tin
  7. cue — a hint
  8. charge — in control
  9. leaves — lets stay
  10. net — in sport
  11. charge — electricity
  12. cue — for pool
  13. can — a tin
  14. chest — of your body
  15. pound — a weight
  16. plane — an aircraft
  17. pound — to hit hard
  18. chest — of your body
  19. charge — a price
  20. leaves — to go away
  21. can — to be able to
  22. cue — a signal
  23. plane — in geometry
  24. net — for catching

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