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 · arm · season · dip · plane · current · shower · bulb

  1. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  2. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  3. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  4. The ________________ took off on time.
  5. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  6. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  7. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  8. Did you ________________ the meat?
  9. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  10. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  11. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  12. My father caught me by the ________________.
  13. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  14. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  15. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  18. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  19. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  20. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  21. I've got to change the light ________________.
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. The light ________________ burned out.
  24. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — a tool
  2. season — of the year
  3. arm — part of the body
  4. plane — an aircraft
  5. arm — a part of something
  6. current — electric
  7. plane — in geometry
  8. season — to add flavour
  9. dip — to sink
  10. shower — a meteor shower
  11. shower — to wash
  12. arm — part of the body
  13. shower — rain
  14. current — happening now
  15. dip — to dunk
  16. can — to be able to
  17. dip — a sauce
  18. current — of water
  19. bulb — of a plant
  20. can — a tin
  21. bulb — for light
  22. can — a tin
  23. bulb — for light
  24. season — in sport

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