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: lash · cap · field · plane · bay · face · bowl · nail

  1. The ________________ took off on time.
  2. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  3. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  4. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  5. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  6. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  7. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  8. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  9. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  10. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  11. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  12. My mare is ________________ in color.
  13. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  14. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  15. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  16. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  17. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  18. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  19. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  20. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  21. The ________________ went through the wall.
  22. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  23. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  24. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — an aircraft
  2. field — for sport
  3. lash — to lash out
  4. lash — a whip stroke
  5. bay — to keep at bay
  6. field — farmland
  7. plane — in geometry
  8. face — part of the head
  9. bowl — to roll
  10. lash — an eyelash
  11. bowl — a football final
  12. bay — a horse colour
  13. bay — a part of the sea
  14. cap — a hat
  15. face — to point toward
  16. cap — of ice
  17. nail — on a finger
  18. plane — a tool
  19. face — to confront
  20. bowl — a dish
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. field — a subject
  23. cap — a lid
  24. nail — for a hammer

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